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Monty Heads The Field For The Sicilian Open

Mar 9, 2011 | Filed Under: General NewsGolf Course Design   Share


Ryder Cup Captain and 31-time European Tour event winner Colin Montgomerie will head the field at this weekend’s Sicilian Open being held at the Gary Player designed Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa.  This is the first event of the 2011 European PGA season to be held on European soil and the first major tournament to be played at Donnafugata.

“This is fantastic for Donnafugata and for the growth of Italian golf.  The Italians are playing so well right now and I expect that we will see the Molinari brothers and Matteo Manassero winning regularly in the coming years.  ” said Gary Player. 

With both Francesco (#17) and Edoardo Molinari (#25) currently residing in the world’s top 25 rankings and youngster Matteo Manassero looking more like a 10-year tour veteran than a 17-year old rookie, Italian professional golf is definitely on the rise.

While the Cadillac Championship being held at Doral in Miami, Florida has drawn many of the world’s top golfers the field for the Sicilian Open is strong.  European Tour winners SSP Chowrasia (recent winner of the Avantha Masters), Nick Dougherty, Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milkha Singh are among the favorites and this weekend marks the return of rising Irish star Shane Lowery from a wrist injury suffered last December. 

Constantino Rocca, Italy’s most successful golfer, has also joined the field.  Although he spends most of his time on the European Senior Tour he felt that playing in the Sicilian Open is important for Italian Golf.

“It is very important for golf in Italy that we have another tournament as well as the BMW Italian Open.  Sicily is an important region for the development of golf in our country and this tournament comes at the right time.  In Sicily you can play golf 12 months a year and we need to promote the region and let people know that.”  he said.

Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa features a 5-star hotel and two 18-hole golf courses and is situated amongst the beautiful beaches of Marina di Ragusa, Punta Secca and Camarina.  Several nearby towns, Ragusa, Modica, Ibla, Noto and Scicli, form part of a UNESCO World Heritage site that preserves many remains of the Sicilian Baroque style in a unique atmosphere.

For more information about Donnafugata Resort and Spa please visit http://www.donnafugatagolfresort.com.

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