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 News from Around Banderas Bay | April 2006 
Puerto Vallarta Blue Agave Golf Classic Kicks Off
 Bob Cohen - PVNN
| | From left to right, Rose Lietzke, Pam Tewell and Christy Kite, wives of professional competitors Bruce, Doug and Tom, who played together in the opening round. | 
| | Mexican star Eduardo "El Gato" Romero on the 10th tee, ready to rip a 300 yard drive. | 
| | Bruce Lietzke leaving the 13th hole after making a spectacular eagle, chipping in the cup from 100 yards out. | 
| | Silvia Gonzalez, the tournament Public Relations Director with her boyfriend (sorry fellas) Sebastian P. Campoo at the CasaMagna Marriott "Toys for Tots" Cocktail party. | 
| | From left to right, professional golfer Andy Bean, wife, Debbie, daughter Christy with close friend Dennis Whitelaw, General Manager of the beautiful CasaMagna Marriott at the "Toys for Tots" Cocktail party. |
The 2006 Puerto Vallarta Blue Agave Golf Classic kicked off in superb fashion in its inaugural event. With a total purse of $1.6 million, $250,000 going to the winner; the Champions Tour sent 78 of the world's best senior golfers to lovely Puerto Vallarta to compete at the Jack Nicklaus designed Vista Vallarta Golf Course.
The weather was picture perfect, the lush mountainous scenery was stunning, the hilly picturesque course was challenging and spectator friendly and the addition of afternoon swirling winds that reached 30 mph all made for a first round filled that lived up to and exceeded expectations for the Classic's inaugural event.
From this reporter's observation, there were many stories involved in the historic Puerto Vallarta day other than the ability for spectators to be up close and personal with some of professional golf's greatest stars. To recap the opening round, 50 year old Scott Simpson, a baby on the Champions Tour led a tight field by a stroke shooting a 5 under par 67 in the only bogey free round played Friday to lead tour veterans Gil Morgan and Davis Eger by a single stroke. Six players were tied at 3 under par, just two strokes back.
The golfing and local community of Puerto Vallarta did what they generally do best; allow visitors to enjoy the beauty and warmth of our seaside community, staying unselfishly in the background, giving our guests the opportunity to experience our paradise, this time on the golf course. Over 300 volunteers dedicated a week of their time and actually donated $75 each to local charities for the opportunity to be an integral part of the tournament, volunteering in a number of different needed capacities.
There are so many individuals and groups that put months of hard work and planning for the week long tournament that it is difficult to single out any particular person without not mentioning hundreds of names. Joe Johnston was the Volunteer Coordinator and selflessly assembled the large group of volunteers that allowed players and spectators to enjoy a true professional golf event. Joe worked extremely hard for months out of his love of golf equaling his pride of being a Puerto Vallarta resident, allowing the golf community and city to put its best foot forward.
Silvia Gonzalez-Arias Hermida, the Public Relations Director for the Blue Agave Classic worked endlessly and enthusiastically, multi tasking nonstop, with her lovely genuine smile and dynamic personality always present. Silvia returned phone calls from me, one at 10:30 PM a day before the event began, just to help me, a local writer, and she won a lifelong friend just for her effort, dedication and joy. Gracias Sylvia!
The Golf Channel and ESPN Latin America covered the tournament live from the first round. Watching footage from the first round Friday night on a tape delay, it was obvious to me that television viewers were treated to superb golf and professional analysis and commentary. Above that, our city was able to showcase itself to the worldwide audience from the panoramic shots from the rugged mountains to the beaches, just a few miles away.
The Champions Tour donated at least $50,000 to local Puerto Vallarta charities in direct donations, and we all applaud the players and tour for that. Make a Wish Foundation; Toys for Tots, Refugio Infantil Santa Espernanza, Becas Vallarta Scholarships, Children of the Dump and the International Friendship Club were among the beneficiaries. Every peso of all donations goes directly to the charities and those less fortunate are allowed to benefit from the generous donations.
During Friday's opening round, I decide to follow one threesome throughout their round. It allowed me to get a feel for the course and watch three great pros play 18 full holes. Tom Kite, Bruce Lietzke and Doug Tewell was the group I chose to follow, able to watch these players that I had only previously watched on television for many years, and it was a treat. Standing just a few yards behind the threesome as they teed off and crushed drives of over 300 yards, or standing on the fringe of the manicured greens watching the players negotiate their putts was an awesome experience.
On the 13th hole, a 340 yard par four, I even got to see Bruce Lietzke hit a 100 yard pitch shot that bounced two feet past the hole and jump into the cup with its backspin for an eagle. That gave him a temporary lead that he couldn't hold as the wind picked up and became extremely difficult for the players.
On the following hole I spoke to three women that I had seen also following the threesome and looking at their passes and noticing the phrase of "Invited Guest", I asked who invited them. They responded that their husbands were the three players in the group and once again I received such tremendous insight into sports, this time through the eyes of family members.
Rose Lietzke, Pam Tewell and Christy Kite were more than gracious in sharing with me as their husbands were competing for a possible $250,000 first place purse. The coolest thing about it was that they were all such close friends and actually were cheering for their husband's competitors to do well. Rose told me that she has enjoyed Puerto Vallarta so much that the whole family is planning a vacation here in a few months. Isn't that what happens when most people visit our city?
To close this scattered article, I left the golf course at 5 PM headed to the CasaMagna Marriott for a Toys for Tots cocktail Party, after playing tennis for two hours in the morning, walking 18 beautiful, picturesque hilly holes all afternoon in the hot sun, and I missed my normal siesta. Such is life in Puerto Vallarta, the city filling my day as usual, and taking advantage of the opportunity to be involved. What a great day!
The best part is that there are two more rounds of play over the weekend. Come out and enjoy the tournament at the Vista Vallarta Golf Course for play Saturday and the closing Sunday round. |
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