MCB Tour Championship Is, After All, the Most Prestigious Golf Event in This Part of the World
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T U G E “ S H COLIN MONTGOMERIE” Ryder Cup Legend, Triple Senior Major Champion & Winner of the European Senior Tour Order of Merit in 2014 & 2015 7-13 DEC 2015 www.mcbtourchampionship.com EXPERTISE, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, CONTENTS ART OF TRANSCENDENCE 5-9 WELCOME NOTES 5 The Mauritius Commercial Bank 7 The European Senior Tour 9 Constance Hotels and Resorts 10-26 OF INTEREST 10 - 11 Presentation of the MCB, Title Sponsor 12 - 13 The Art of Living at Constance Belle Mare Plage 14 - 15 Facts and Formats 17 Defending Champion 18 - 19 Sponsors’ Acknowledgements 21 Golf Executives 22 Caddy Master & Greenkeeping Teams 23 Golf Academy 24 - 25 Senior Moment 26 Pratice Facilities and Programme of the Event 27-70 OF INTEREST 27 - 30 Players to Watch 32 - 33 The Legend Course Overview 34 - 39 Hole-by-hole Guide 41 Your Programme 42 - 43 Players Facilities 46 - 47 List of Senior Professionals 49 First time eligible 50 Tournament Offi cials 52 Order of Merit 2015 53 Past Order of Merit 54 - 63 Player Profi les 65 Special Prizes 67 Professional Prize Fund Printers Since 1941 70 Closing thoughts IMPRIMERIE & PAPETERIE COMMERCIALE - 125, Ménagerie Road - Cassis - Mauritius - Tel : (230) 212 4190 - Fax : (230) 208 3523 3 Welcome from THE MCB GROUP Welcome to Mauritius and the enchanting greens of the Constance Belle Mare Plage for the grand fi nale of the 2015 European Senior Tour schedule. Everyday, we will help make With so many of the sport’s greatest names gracing the fairways, I am confi dent that the competition will be thrilling for participants and spectators something happen alike. The MCB Tour Championship is, after all, the most prestigious golf event in this part of the world. When we started this adventure with Constance Hotels and the European Senior Tour, our aim was to showcase Mauritius as a premier destination for everyone who is passionate about golf. Our efforts are bearing results. Mauritius is now globally recognised as a golfi ng destination par excellence, earning multiple prestigious awards every year. While the MCB Tour Championship has consistently strengthened its reputation as an exciting rendezvous in the global sports calendar, we will sustain our efforts to ensure that the competition gets even better year on year. We will also ensure that it retains its unique proposition of being a competitive yet friendly tournament. I would like to thank all partners who have made this edition of the MCB Tour Championship possible and wish everyone a successful and memorable competition. Pierre Guy Noël Chief Executive 4 mcbgroup.com 5 Welcome from THE EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2015 MCB Tour Championship. For the fi fth successive season, the European Senior Tour concludes our campaign at Constance Belle Mare Plage, here on the magnifi cent island of Mauritius. This time last year we crowned Colin Montgomerie the winner of the John Jacobs Trophy for topping the European Senior Tour Order of Merit; once again he arrives with an insurmountable lead, and in with every chance of improving on last year’s record earnings of € 624,543. It has been another superb season for Colin, who has retained two of the titles he won in 2014: the US Senior PGA Championship and the Travis Perkins Masters. Knowing Colin, I am sure he will be determined this week to add the MCB Tour Championship to an already impressive CV. Last year, Paul Wesselingh successfully defended his title over the Legend Course after a record-breaking play-off with Barry Lane, whilst also holding off the challenge of David Frost. Both Paul and David will be back in action this year, attempting to become the fi rst player to win this prestigious title for a third time. The Rookie of the Year Award is yet to be determined but it looks to be a straight shootout between Paul Broadhurst, who won the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open on his debut, and Lian-wei Zhang, who has performed with great credit in his fi rst season on the European Senior Tour. This tournament and venue have provided a magnifi cent stage to conclude our season for the past four years, and our thanks once again go to Mauritius Commercial Bank for their continued support of the event. We hope all their Pro-Am guests enjoy playing alongside some of the game’s greatest names. Similarly, we are grateful to Jean-Jacques Vallet and everyone at Constance Belle Mare Plage for their superb hospitality, which helps provide such a memorable fi nale to the season. To everyone involved, including all the volunteers and spectators, we thank you for supporting the Senior Tour in 2015, and hope you enjoy the MCB Tour Championship Andy Stubbs Managing Director, European Senior Tour 6 7 Welcome from CONSTANCE HOTELS & RESORTS From across the world, guests and golfers arrive at Constance Belle Mare Plage for the 5th MCB Tour Championship, the fi nal leg of the 2015 European Senior Tour season. As was the case last year, Colin Montgomerie, one of Europe’s fi nest-ever golfers, has already secured the John Jacobs Trophy, awarded to the leading player on the Tour. Yet, this will not distract from the competitiveness of the tournament, which arguably has the strongest fi eld yet assembled. Alongside Montgomerie are his fellow Ryder Cup stars Sam Torrance, as well as David Frost and Paul Wesselingh both seeking an unprecedented third victory in the event. Moreover, last year’s runner-up, Barry Lane, returns hoping to go one better while fi rst-time visitor Paul Broadhurst will be chasing the Rookie of the Year title. Twelve months ago, Wesselingh and Lane fought out a dramatic fi nale. What excitement does this year hold for us? 2014 marked the 20th anniversary of Constance Hotels and Resorts hosting the fi rst ever PGA approved event in Mauritius and we are proud of our contribution in promoting the golf industry on the island. As such, it feels appropriate that our Legend and Links courses witness the conclusion of not just the Senior Tour season, but of a truly breakthrough year for Mauritian golf. Our golfi ng legacy and the quality of our courses are the main reasons why our unique week of golf continues to attract amateurs from across the world. Nowhere else can they experience the excitement of competitive golf amongst themselves, in addition to the thrill of playing alongside the stars of the European Senior Tour. As always, we extend a special thank you to our main partner, the Mauritius resort experience in Mauritius Commercial Bank. Their support enables this golfi ng spectacle to take place, as does the valued contributions from every other supporting sponsor. Finally, to our guests, we say a special welcome. This tournament is a highlight for us and, we hope, for you too; this week is all about you. THE TOTAL RESORT EXPERIENCE Have a wonderful stay and enjoy the tournament. A 5 star resort running alongside a perfect 2 km white sand beach, set amidst 37 acres of beautiful tropical gardens. Jean-Jacques Vallet Chief Executive Offi cer Begin the U-experience: call (230) 402 2772/73 or visit us at www.constancehotels.com 8 9 A relentless drive to progress Our seasoned specialists select and tailor the MCB has successfully diversi ed beyond The MCB Group has the largest market Leveraging its 177-year history, MCB Group world-class products and services available Mauritius and is the ideal gateway for capitalisation on the Stock Exchange of is an integrated banking and nancial services within the MCB Group, and beyond, to customers who intend to go global. Mauritius, is ranked 625th among The player, with over 3,000 employees. It offers address the speci c needs of our broad range The Group is present in Seychelles, Banker’s top 1000 world banks, 1st in East a wide range of tailored and innovative of customers. The ultimate bouquet, which Madagascar and the Maldives. We also Africa and 18th in Africa. solutions through dedicated local and foreign includes wealth management, is reserved for have an Africa representative Of ce in Our progress is anchored on ambitious and subsidiaries and associates. our Private Banking Customers. Johannesburg and operate branches in Réunion, Mayotte and Paris through Banque sensible strategic intents, thus making us Our local network of 40 modern branches MCB has always been a staunch supporter Française Commerciale Océan Indien, a the recipient of a host of recognitions and spans the whole country, while one in two of businesses and a reliable partner of the joint-venture with Société Générale. accolades over 2014 and 2015. Mauritian cardholders have an MCB issued Mauritian economy. As the country’s leading A remarkable symbol of MCB’s evolution card. Our wealth of expertise also ensures corporate banking institution with over 40% MCB Group further participates in key over 177 years is its landmark eco-building a seamless banking, nancial and advisory market share, we deliver exible and innovative cross-border syndication and risk-sharing at St Jean. This architectural jewel is service with personal expert attention. solutions fast and expertly. Our exclusive arrangements. Our International Division advantage: we take all decisions locally. offers customised solutions, including the inspiration behind the MCB Tour project nancing, trade facilitation and Championship trophy. e-commerce enablers. We are committed to the perpetual We also have a wide network of global enhancement of the services we deliver. correspondents and Swift arrangements with We will keep introducing new technology, over 1,600 partner banks throughout the pioneering new services and training our staff world.