Barcelona Open (golf)
The Barcelona Open was a professional golf tournament that was held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Founded as the Sanyo Open in 1981, it was an event on the European Tour from 1982 until 1988, after which it was replaced on the tour schedule by the Catalan Open. For the first two editions it was played at Club de Golf Sant Cugat, and thereafter at Real Club de Golf El Prat.
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Location | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
Established | 1981 |
Course(s) | RCG El Prat (1983–1988) CG Sant Cugat (1981–1982) |
Tour(s) | European Tour (from 1982) |
Format | 72-hole stroke play |
Final year | 1988 |
Tournament record score | |
Aggregate | 266 Neil Coles (1982) |
To par | −16 Seve Ballesteros (1985) |
Final champion | |
David Whelan |
After sponsors Sanyo withdrew following the 1986 tournament, promoters IMG supported the event in 1987.[1] However persistent bad weather rendered the El Prat course unplayable and the tournament was ultimately postponed until 1988.[1][2]
The two most notable winners were Spanish major champions Seve Ballesteros in 1985 and José María Olazábal in 1986. The final tournament in 1988 was won by England's David Whelan, who defeated Nick Faldo, Barry Lane and Mark Mouland in a four-way playoff. Whelan, who had borrowed money from his parents in order to make the trip to Spain to compete in the tournament, triumphed at the 4th extra hole after the four players had tied at 276 (12 under par) after 72 holes.[3]
Winners
Year | Venue | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Torras Hostench Barcelona Open | |||||||
1988 | El Prat | David Whelan | 276 | −12 | Playoff[lower-alpha 1] | Nick Faldo Barry Lane Mark Mouland | [3][4] |
Barcelona Open | |||||||
1987 | El Prat | Tournament cancelled due to a waterlogged course. | [2][1] | ||||
Sanyo Barcelona Open | |||||||
1986 | El Prat | José María Olazábal | 273 | −15 | 3 strokes | Howard Clark | [5] |
Sanyo Open | |||||||
1985 | El Prat | Seve Ballesteros | 272 | −16 | 3 strokes | Jeff Hawkes | |
1984 | El Prat | Sam Torrance | 281 | −7 | Playoff[lower-alpha 2] | Des Smyth | [6] |
1983 | El Prat | Des Smyth | 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | Hugh Baiocchi Mark James | |
1982 | Sant Cugat | Neil Coles | 266 | −14 | 1 stroke | Gary Cullen | |
1981 | Sant Cugat | Bernard Gallacher | 268 | −12 | 3 strokes | Seve Ballesteros | [7] |
- Whelan won with a par on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff; Faldo and Mouland were eliminated on the first extra hole.
- Torrance won with a par on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
References
- Miller, David (20 October 1987). "Threat to the welfare of golf". The Times. London, England. p. 48. Retrieved 7 June 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
- "Sport in brief | Golf". The Guardian. London, England. 15 October 1987. p. 30. Retrieved 7 June 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Rags-to-riches win for Whelan after four-hole play-off". The Herald (Glasgow). 19 March 1988. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
- "Barcelona Open 1988". PGA European Tour. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
- McCormack, Mark H. (1987). Ebel World of Professional Golf 1987. Collins Willow. pp. 221–223, 439. ISBN 0002182572.
- McCormack, Mark H. (1985). Ebel World of Professional Golf 1985. Springwood Books. pp. 193–194, 399. ISBN 0862541247.
- McCormack, Mark H. (1982). Dunhill World of Professional Golf 1982. Springwood Books. pp. 205, 420–421. ISBN 0862541018.