26 the World Of golfing
EVENTS - Costa Navarino
Great Golf And Familiar Faces At
Costa Navarino’
s Season Opener
Events
The successful third annual Messinia
ProAm, featuring competitors from
20 countries, saw a victory for Italy,
while Hollywood actor Bill Murray and
England’s Rugby World Cup winner Mike
Tindall added to the event’s appeal. Tadini’s final tally of 197, 15-under par,
was a hugely impressive 11 shots ahead
of his nearest rival, Wentworth’s Stuart
Boyle, following two rounds of golf on
the Dunes Course and one on the Bay
Course.
PGA of Italy’s Alessandro Tadini retained
his concentration amid the celebrity
spotting to win the season-opening
event, at the Mediterranean’s leading
destination, Costa Navarino, in Greece. The 45-year-old Italian was full of praise
for the destination, saying: “I would like
to thank Costa Navarino for hosting this
wonderful event. It is a fantastic place
with two spectacular courses, and myself
and my team have had the most amazing
time in Messinia.”
More than 120 professionals, celebrities
and amateur golfers – including Oscar-
nominated and Golden Globe winner
Murray and rugby legend Tindall –
enjoyed three rounds of competition
golf in a professionally organised event,
and a series of thematic social events
culminating in a memorable gala dinner
and prizegiving hosted by pro golfer
and TV presenter Iona Stephen and golf
coach and YouTube star Peter Finch.
Murray was as in awe of Costa Navarino
as Tadini, and said: “This is the best place