Glory for Goya on Challenge Tour
A series of scintillating early season performances on the European Challenge Tour have seen Estanislao Goya of Argentina receive the first ever ECCO Performance Award presented by Colin Montgomerie. Goya was the unanimous choice of the four man judging panel, comprising European Tour Members Thomas Björn and Colin Montgomerie, Challenge Tour Managing Director Alain de Soultrait, and ECCO Chief Executive Dieter Kasprzak. The starlet, who only recently turned 20, was presented with a cheque for €10,000 on conclusion of the Scottish Challenge, where he finished in the top 20 for the seventh time this season. He said: “It means a lot to me to win this award, because it is nice to be recognised for my hard work. I’ve had a fantastic start to my professional career, and I hope to win many more awards in the future. Playing in Europe on the Challenge Tour has taught me a lot, and it’s good preparation for achieving my dream of playing on The European Tour. I have improved so much over the last year, and if I can keep improving I have a great chance of finishing in the top ten in the Rankings. The award is good for my confidence, and I would like to thank ECCO for their support.”
Goya has enjoyed a stratospheric rise through the ranks since turning professional. He first came to prominence at the end of 2007 when winning the Tour de las Americas Qualifying School by nine shots, in the process breaking Johnnie Miller’s 32 year course record at the Bonaventure Country Club in Florida with a superb round of 61. Just four months later, in March 2008, Goya clinched his first title as a professional when he triumphed in his homeland at the 77 Abierto VISA del Centro presentado por Personal on the Challenge Tour. In searing temperatures on the final day, the youngster kept his cool and belied his tender years by fending off the challenge of reigning US Open champion Angel Cabrera, amongst others, to collect the €20,716 winner’s cheque – his first as a professional. Not one to rest on his laurels, Goya followed up that victory with top five finishes in his next two tournaments: third at the 103 Abierto VISA de la Republica presentado por Peugeot, and fifth at the II Club Colombia Masters. On the back of those three results Goya rose to the top of the Challenge Tour Rankings, but his best performance was arguably yet to come. Having for the first time been invited to step up to European Tour duty at the Methorios Capital Italian Open, Goya proved he had the temperament to match his undoubted ability by thriving in such exalted company. A 15 under par total saw Goya claim a share of 12th place and a cheque for €26,316. Montgomerie said: “Estanisloa Goya is a thoroughly deserving winner of this exciting and worthy new award on the Challenge Tour. The way he went about his business when competing against the so-called big boys of The European Tour was a measure of the man, and I take my hat off to him.” Dieter Kasprzak said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this award, and to present it to such a bright young prospect as Estanislao Goya. His growing maturity and continued development made him an obvious choice, and we wish him well for the rest of the season.” Alain de Soultrait said: “Having seen Estanisloa at close quarters, I have no doubt this young man has a big future ahead of him. He embodies all that is good about the Challenge Tour, and indeed the game in general. Whilst he is talented and fearless, he also shows humility and a healthy respect for his fellow pros and the spirit of golf. We are proud to have him on the Challenge Tour.” The winner of the second award of the season, the ECCO Performance Award presented by Thomas Björn, will be presented with his €10,000 cheque at the final event of the Challenge Tour season, the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy from October 22-25. All players competing at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, as well as the winner of every Challenge Tour event, will receive a pair of golf shoes courtesy of ECCO, who are also supporting seven events on this year’s schedule.
Goya has enjoyed a stratospheric rise through the ranks since turning professional. He first came to prominence at the end of 2007 when winning the Tour de las Americas Qualifying School by nine shots, in the process breaking Johnnie Miller’s 32 year course record at the Bonaventure Country Club in Florida with a superb round of 61. Just four months later, in March 2008, Goya clinched his first title as a professional when he triumphed in his homeland at the 77 Abierto VISA del Centro presentado por Personal on the Challenge Tour. In searing temperatures on the final day, the youngster kept his cool and belied his tender years by fending off the challenge of reigning US Open champion Angel Cabrera, amongst others, to collect the €20,716 winner’s cheque – his first as a professional. Not one to rest on his laurels, Goya followed up that victory with top five finishes in his next two tournaments: third at the 103 Abierto VISA de la Republica presentado por Peugeot, and fifth at the II Club Colombia Masters. On the back of those three results Goya rose to the top of the Challenge Tour Rankings, but his best performance was arguably yet to come. Having for the first time been invited to step up to European Tour duty at the Methorios Capital Italian Open, Goya proved he had the temperament to match his undoubted ability by thriving in such exalted company. A 15 under par total saw Goya claim a share of 12th place and a cheque for €26,316. Montgomerie said: “Estanisloa Goya is a thoroughly deserving winner of this exciting and worthy new award on the Challenge Tour. The way he went about his business when competing against the so-called big boys of The European Tour was a measure of the man, and I take my hat off to him.” Dieter Kasprzak said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this award, and to present it to such a bright young prospect as Estanislao Goya. His growing maturity and continued development made him an obvious choice, and we wish him well for the rest of the season.” Alain de Soultrait said: “Having seen Estanisloa at close quarters, I have no doubt this young man has a big future ahead of him. He embodies all that is good about the Challenge Tour, and indeed the game in general. Whilst he is talented and fearless, he also shows humility and a healthy respect for his fellow pros and the spirit of golf. We are proud to have him on the Challenge Tour.” The winner of the second award of the season, the ECCO Performance Award presented by Thomas Björn, will be presented with his €10,000 cheque at the final event of the Challenge Tour season, the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy from October 22-25. All players competing at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, as well as the winner of every Challenge Tour event, will receive a pair of golf shoes courtesy of ECCO, who are also supporting seven events on this year’s schedule.
posted by Robert Halter at 11:06 AM
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