Marcos Pastor showed at the Miguel Ángel Jiménez Golf Academy why he is one of Spain’s finest players from 120 metres and closer. His two consecutive wins in the Spanish pitch & putt championship (2010 and 2011) were by no means a fluke, and this week he once again showcased his short-game skills with an overwhelming victory in The Gecko Tour event sponsored by Reale Seguros.
The Córdoba golfer dominated the 16th event of the season with a total score of 153. Pastor won resoundingly, with no cracks in his game, so much so that his final nine holes were something of a triumphant stroll around the Torremolinos course. His victory margin of seven shots against runner-up Juan Carlos Osorio and nine ahead of third-placed James Dick said it all.
Pastor was the main favourite for victory even before the tournament began, and he fulfilled those expectations spectacularly. His six-under, bogey-free round on the second day was the key to his gaining a comfortable advantage going into the final round. He began today with a five-stroke lead over his nearest rival and he eventually extended that to seven.
Indisputable. He even enjoyed a final flourish with a birdie on the 18th. “I’m very pleased with the win,” said the champion. “Yesterday, when I finished the second round, my plan was to start strongly on the final day, and it worked well. I scored four birdies on the front nine and hit several shots into the centre of the green on the second nine.”
Marcos came into golf through pitch & putt, a format in which he became Spain’s finest proponent, and one of the best in the world. The pitch & putt format is played on short courses featuring par-3 holes, like Miguel Ángel Jiménez’s layout – attractive, a great design, fun and with nine par-3s.
It might not be as long as the usual courses where The Gecko Tour is played but it certainly proved to be a tough challenge for the players. In fact, apart from Pastor – who played in a different category this week – only Juan Carlos Osorio managed to finish under par. “I think I’m pretty good from 120 metres and closer,” said the oldest member of the Pastor dynasty, “and having played pitch & putt helped me in a tournament like this. As you play very quickly and have very short shots, it’s easy to become anxious and be in a bit of a rush to score birdies, which can cause problems. You have to be more patient, even more so than on a longer course – and play safer.”
The tournament was played under a special format: pro-am on the first day and no cut. The players completed two rounds of the nine-hole layout each day, and there were two holes-in-one: the first by Gabriel Cañizares on Sunday and the second today, carded by Englishman John Milne.
In addition to winning a cheque for €3,000 as tournament winner, Marcos Pastor also regained first place on The Gecko Tour order of merit, overtaking Manuel Quirós. There are now only two more events this season, and the pair are set for a titanic duel. “My aim is to win The Gecko Tour,” said Pastor. “I was in the number one position for several weeks and I would like to finish first, although my objective after that will be to play less and be better prepared for the major challenges ahead, especially the European Tour Qualifying School. I was planning to compete on the Alps Tour but in the end I changed my mind. I prefer to play less and prepare myself better to feel stronger and more comfortable on the major tours. I know that when I’m more confident and at ease on one tour I’ll be ready to join the top players, and that’s my goal.”
The next event will be at Guadalmina from 15 to 17 March. An attractive pro-am will be held on the day before the tournament.