Take note of these names: Antonio Muñoz, Pedro Tineo, Dmitrii Elchaninov, Chanya Huaysan, Cornelia Bermudo and Martina Tirado. They are between 9 and 14 years old and this Wednesday they experienced something they will hardly forget. Every prestigious Pro Am has hidden stories worth uncovering. The Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters was no exception. On this occasion, the star matches were those of Adri Arnaus and Eugenio López Chacarra, although this time, if only for a day, it wasn’t precisely because of them, but because of their distinguished amateurs…
Chacarra played with Muñoz, Tineo and Elchaninov, while Arnaus played with Huaysan, Bermudo and Tirado. The six youngsters share the fact that they are federated by Andalucía and this year they have been champions in the benjamín, alevín and infantil categories. For quite some time now, the Real Federación Andaluza de Golf has had the lovely tradition of inviting its champions to the Pro Am of the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters to experience a professional tournament first-hand. It’s an invaluable feeling. There are nerves, of course, but above all, they exude enormous excitement.
“She hits the ball very well. It goes very straight and long. I would say she drives about 200 metres or a bit more. It’s impressive when you know she’s only 14 years old. I think we barely used my drive a couple of times; most of the time, they chose Chanya’s. She’s also very good around the green. You can see a player who takes what she does very seriously,” says Arnaus shortly after finishing the Pro Am.
Huaysan and Muñoz are 14 years old and are second-year infantiles, Tineo and Bermudo are 12 and 11 and are alevines, and the benjamines Tirado and Elchaninov are 9 and 10. Today, they were the picture of happiness. They were amazed by Arnaus’s drives and the pride of playing alongside a DP World Tour champion, as well as a winner on the LIV Golf and the Asian Tour.
Consider yourselves warned. Take note of those six names. Who knows if one day we’ll see them in a ProAm, but on the other side of the game, as professionals playing on top-level tours. In the meantime, let them keep being amazed and having as much fun with golf. A round of applause for this initiative by the Real Federación Andaluza de Golf.
