Manuel Hernandez Gonzalez and Manuel Sanchez Varela of Team Spain were the winners of the 2013 International Pairs World Finals, held at Machrihanish Dunes.
With a Stableford score of 41pt, the team from Spain won a nail biting play-off against England's Marcus Law and Stuart Stamps (pictured right) from Hagley Golf Club in the West Midlands.South Africa's team of Johann Strauss and Pierre van Graan came third with a score of 39.
The 2013 International Pairs World Final, hosted at The Village at Machrihanish Dunes, brought together finalists from across the globe in what event organizer Patrick Mulcrone called the ultimate test of golf. "All in attendance described the setting and course for this final as perfect," Mulcrone said, "with many holes hugging the rugged and picturesque shores of the Mull of Kintyre. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff in attendance and the testing links course was in absolutely perfect condition for the competitors, who prepared for battle in Scotland, the home of golf."
There were no clear-cut favourites and the final scores underlined just how competitive the event was. At the end, there were two teams left, Spain and England on 41 points apiece; Manuel Sanchez Varela (handicap 11) and Manuel Hernandez Gonzalez (2) representing Spain and Stuart Stamps (9) and Marcus Law (5) representing England.
After the first extra hole was halved when Law called a penalty on himself because his ball had moved on the green, the excitement and tension level of the match only grew higher. On the second playoff hole, both Spaniards drove to within chipping distance of the hole on the lower level of the green and went on to clinch the tournament by putting out for par.
Published by scottishgolfview.com