Punta Mita, Nayarit, Mexico - The Punta Mita Resort, Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort and the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted the 8th annual American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf event from November 29 to December 2, 2018.

As part of event tradition, an online auction raised $91,703.00 to benefit the Lorena Ochoa Foundation and the Punta Mita Hospital Foundation. The Lorena Ochoa Foundation raises funds for children and teenagers with social and economic disadvantages. In total, Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf has raised over USD $500,000 for a variety of charities in its eight impactful years.

Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf drew over 450 guests over four days of exceptional culinary experiences with more than 20 featured chefs, innovative mixology featuring tequila and mezcal, wine tasting programs, and epic golfing on two signature Jack Nicklaus courses. The event's three main draws - food, spirits and golf - were featured throughout the iconic beach resort just 40 minutes from Puerto Vallarta.

The two-day Punta Mita Cup kicked off on Thursday, November 29th with Mexico's most famed golfer, Lorena Ochoa, considered the best Mexican golfer of all time, who faced off against Craig "The Walrus" Stadler, for the traditional Punta Mita Golf Challenge.

Participants were then treated to an inaugural cocktail party at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort presented by Aeroméxico-Delta Airlines, the official airline sponsor of the event. The resort's talented culinary team, together with guest chefs John Signorelli from The St. Regis Houston, Erik Guerrero from DOS Restaurant in Veracruz, and Alex Branch from Hakasana Group in Los Cabos, welcomed guests with an array of culinary delights, along with professional mixologists creating signature cocktails from Grey Goose and Tequila Patrón.

On Friday the 30th, 200 golfers played Punta Mita's two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, overlooking Banderas Bay, while non-golfers enjoyed culinary experiences from chefs Abraham Salum, Alfredo Villanueva, Leslie Durso in beautiful settings throughout Punta Mita.

In addition, guests enjoyed the American Express Platinum House®, an exclusive space for wine tastings and cooking classes in American Express style. In the evening, guest chefs Antonio de Livier, Andrew Ormsby, Atzin Santos, Angel Vázquez, Betty Vázquez, Alexander Branch and Erik Guerrero delighted with exquisite menus in their own unique styles.

"Day Two" of the tournament continued with more food, drink and play on the Pacifico and Bahia courses. The golf tournament concluded with the Tequila Patrón Cup Prizegiving Luncheon on Saturday, December 1. This year winners included: Juan Rosales and David Rosales in the men's division, Lisa Mahoney and Katie Hollern in the women's category, and Ricardo Escamilla and Lucero Rosales in the mixed set. Each were awarded with exquisite pieces of art glass hand-made by Studio Orfeo Quagliata.

This year's 8th edition of the American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf featured the destination's most celebrated resident chefs: Pato Pérsico, Executive Chef Punta Mita Beach Clubs; Executive Chef Jorge González and Chef Esther Sánchez of Aramara Restaurant, and Bahía Restaurant Chef Sandra Herrera - all part of the Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort's culinary team.

Participating chefs from The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort include Manuel Peruyero, Executive Chef, Sous-Executive Chef Angelina Ramos, Tamsy Guillen, Pastry Chef, Miguel Soltero, Sous-Chef Carolina Restaurant, and Chef Julio Curiel of Sea Breeze and Mita Mary Boat Bistro.

Punta Mita thanks the sponsors of the 8th edition of the American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf: American Express, Tequila Patrón, Chubb Insurance, Grey Goose, Aeroméxico-Delta Airlines, Las Marietas, Monte Xanic, Bocanegra Beer, Golf Digest, Golf Channel Latam, Adidas, TaylorMade, Ronda Pro and Bridgestone Golf.

About The Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic

The American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic marries the sophisticated worlds of culinary excellence and championship golf in one of the most beautiful and attractive destinations in the world: Punta Mita. Hosted by The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort and Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, the Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic invites guests to experience an unparalleled four-day extravaganza featuring the best of local and international cuisine, phenomenal wine, festive gatherings and world-class golf within Mexico's most exclusive beach community along the shores of Riviera Nayarit. This lavish event of culture and sport brings together esteemed chefs, famed sommeliers, wine experts, tequila masters and Epicurean personalities from around the globe, who congregate to showcase their exceptional talents while guests compete in The Punta Mita Cup, a two-day golf tournament on the property's prestigious Jack Nicklaus golf courses. For more information, please visit puntamitagourmetandgolf.com.