CATALAN STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Marc Lloret victorious at the Catalan Strokeplay Championship 2009
Organized by the Federaciķ Catalana de Pitch & Putt, the 2009 Catalan Strokeplay Championship was played on 13-14 June at Montseny. Qualifying rounds had pared the original entry of 365 down to a strong field of 105 in the final.
The championship was contested over 72 holes. Clear winner after four rounds was Marc Lloret, from P&P Platja d'Aro (Baix Empordā), with a 14 under par aggregate of 202 strokes. Lloret started slowly with an even par opening round of 54. Successive 50s in the second and third rounds left the 2003 and 2006 champion just inside the top six with eighteen holes to play. The top players were in the final groups and could keep a close check on the progress of their fellow challengers. From the seventh hole of the final round, Marc Lloret raced clear and his closing 48 gave him a single shot victory.
Runner-up Jordi Salvā from P&P Franciac (La Selva) had dominated proceedings in the first three rounds in which he carded 48, 52 and 52 to be 10 under heading into Sunday afternoon's final round. Jordi played superby over the final nine holes but he narrowly missed birdie attempts on the final two greens to fall agonisingly short.
In third place was Joan Poch, also from P&P Franciac, on 205. Fourth on 206 was Marc Garcia Pinto P&P Fornells (Girona) and fifth was Jordi Saborit from P&P Platja d'Aro on 207. Saborit was well placed after 54 holes but his putting left him down on Sunday afternoon.
Nobody has won more Catalan Strokeplay Strokeplay championships than Marc Lloret, who has now been crowned champion on three of the thirteen occasions the event has been contested. With Catalan Matchplay Championships victories in 2006 and 2007. Marc now holds a record five Individual Catalan Championships. Also testimony of his high level of play is a fourth place in the World Individual Strokeplay Championship 2009, played at La Grande Motte (France).
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