Follow your passion... with us! The 6th International Golf Tournament Aegean Airlines ProAm has been completed at Costa Navarino, Messinia. Dedicated to the memory of Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos.
COSTA NAVARINO, June 5, 2011. The international golf tournament Aegean Airlines ProAm was held with exceptional success, for the sixth consecutive year, in “The Dunes Course”, a golf course of unique natural beauty in the Costa Navarino hotels, at Pylos, Messinia.
This destination, which placed Messinia on the global tourism map, is a major achievement of the person who had the inspiration and created this resort, Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos, to whose memory this year’s event had been dedicated.
The successful AEGEAN tournament, which gathered professional and amateur players from 18 countries of the world, lasted three days and took place in “The Dunes Course”, an 18-hole golf course of international standards, the first signature golf in Greece, designed by the golf champion Bernhard Langer in collaboration with European Golf Design, which was only inaugurated last year, at the opening of the 5th AEGEAN AIRLINES Pro-Am. The top-quality golf course, coupled with the fascinating location, right next to the sea, with the outstanding facilities of the The Romanos, A Luxury Collection Resort και The Westin Resort hotels of Navarino Dunes, as well as the great historical and cultural interest of the broader region, have been the contributing factors that made the “6th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am” the most passionate and spectacular ever.
This year as well, the tournament was organized under the auspices of the PGAs of Europe and the PGA of Greece, as well as with the wholehearted support of the Hellenic Golf Federation.
This year’s tournament, which was held from the 1st to the 4th of June, was honored by the participation of 45 teams, consisting of one professional and three amateur players. Golfers from 18 countries took part in the tournament, competing on a professional level for the highest prize fund all over Europe in a Pro-Am event for professionals. The competition was harsh, and the winner in the professional category of the “6th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am” was the Italian Nicolo Gaggero. In the team category, the winner was “Lamborghini GC”, with the professional player Zeke Martinez, while the “Glyfada Golf Club” with the professional golfer Adam Sophronis ranked second.
The substantial purse of 62,700€ was divided among the 45 PGA professionals, while remarkable gift awards were given to the amateurs. The first winning professional received the “Aegean Airlines Pro-Am Trophy”, along with a €7,000 cheque!
As every “Aegean Airlines Pro-Am” tournament, this year’s event as well had its name linked to a public benefit purpose. To this end, the amount of 10,000€ was donated to the “Navarino Foundation”. Navarino Foundation’s purpose is to develop all sorts of activities and initiatives that contribute to promoting the culture, economy, society and natural landscape of the wider area of Messinia, and particularly to establishing and displaying this region as a model Mediterranean destination worldwide, in terms of tourism, entertainment and culture.
Addressing the distinguished guests, the President of the Organizing Committee of the “6th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am” and Chairman of Aegean Airlines, Mr. Theodore Vassilakis, profoundly touched, dedicated this year’s tournament to the memory of Costa Navarino’s inspirer and creator, Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos. He, also, expressed his gratitude to all those who “embraced” the 6th Aegean Airlines ProAm, contributing with their efforts to the success of the tournament once again. Moreover, he pointed out that Aegean Airlines, even in difficult times, determined and mature, continues to labour in the cause of strengthening the sport in Greece, considering golf to be a significant “tool” of athletic, economic and tourist development, in order for golf to conquer an eminent position in the hearts of all Greeks.
The prizes were presented to the winners during the official gala dinner of the closing ceremony by the chairman of Aegean Airlines Mr. Theodore Vassilakis, the Secretary General for Tourism, Mrs. Konstantina Bei, the President of the Greek Tourist Organization (EOT), Mr. Nikolas Kanellopoulos and the CEO of TEMES, Mr. Achilles Konstantakopoulos, in the presence of major figures of the political, business and social life.
The “1st Aegean Airlines Pro-Am” was organized by Aegean Airlines for the first time in 2006, as an innovative idea for a golf event in Greece that was quite pioneer for its time. This tournament was held in compliance with the international organizing standards and has been a huge success, as it saw the participation of professional and amateur players from many European countries and other parts of the world. Six years later, the “6th Aegean Airlines Pro-Am” has been established as one of the most important golf tournaments in the annual agenda of PGAs of Europe, among other standard major athletic events. It is true that Aegean Airlines is constantly trying to make Greeks familiar to golf, promoting the sport’s culture, the required facilities and business activities involved, in order to boost tourism and Greek economy.
AEGEAN IS THE «PREFERRED AIRLINE» OF THE PGAS OF EUROPE
By organizing the highest-quality golf tournament for the last five years, through multiple sponsorships to bodies, such as the PGA of Greece and the Hellenic Golf Federation, by organizing the AEGEAN Mini Tour 2010 and 2011, by providing benefits to golfers travelling to Greece, and also within Greece, by shaping special travel packages (Whole in One Project), combined to its policy to exempt travelling golfers from any overweight charge for their golf bag, AEGEAN AIRLINES’ goal is to develop golf in Greece, under different forms, so that economy and tourism are strengthened and several benefits are ensured for the whole country. At the same time, golf activity in our country is enhanced, as we contribute to upgrading the quality of golf events in Greece. The close bonds of cooperation between the PGAs of Europe and AEGEAN AIRLINES have been further reinforced by the recent signing of a partnership agreement. In specific, AEGEAN becomes the «preferred airline» of the professional golfers, members of the PGAs of Europe and the officials of the PGAs of Europe. It is a partnership that offers a number of benefits to PGAs members. This recent “working together” was the natural continuation of the efforts made during the last five years by the PGAs of Europe (www.pgae.com) to promote and enhance the AEGEAN AIRLINES Pro-Am, which very soon gained a high prestige and has now been established as an exceptionally popular event every June.