El Campeonato de Madrid de Profesionales, torneo de la PGA de España, será la segunda parada de la temporada de NIN9RS Games. Xorkyo Frogs defend their lead after their display at Izki Golf
NIN9RS Games gets back under way. After the launch of the second edition at Izki Golf, coinciding with the Campeonato de España Dobles de la PGA de España, the team competition now lands at the Campeonato de Madrid de Profesionales, a new fixture on the PGA calendar that will serve as the season’s second points event and will be contested from Monday to Wednesday at the Dehesa Golf Club
And this time there is a very important nuance: there are no pairs. There is no fourball, no splitting of points between two players nor strategic pair combinations. The tournament will be individual, so each golfer will play for his position in the championship and, at the same time, to add points to his team’s tally in NIN9RS Games
In other words: no more half measures. Whoever wins, wins. Whoever scores, scores. Each player will be directly in control of his own haul and that of his team
The first stop left a very clear picture. Xorkyo Frogs struck first and did so with authority, to the point of winning the inaugural event by a considerable margin. The team captained by Mario Galiano put in the muscle from day one and now arrives in Madrid with the mission of defending the lead. That said, the rest already know the path: place players high up, the more the better, and don’t give away a single point
For this Campeonato de Madrid de Profesionales, Xorkyo Frogs present a very strong line-up made up of Borja Martín, Asier Aguirre, David Borda, Borja Virto and Javier Sainz. A mix of seasoned players, experience, craft and plenty of competitive mileage
Close behind is Codex Golf Linces, who will seek to continue their good start with Alfonso Buendía, Manuel Ballesteros, Joseba Torres and Álvaro Velasco. Another team aiming clearly high is Valencia Vikings, with Liam Murray, Rubén Lafuente, Carlos Abril, José Manuel Lara and Jordan Gibb, a very serious line-up intent on getting fully into the fight
The champion of the first edition, Atlas Golf Lleida, also enters the scene with heavy names: Emilio Cuartero, Gerard Piris, Alejandro Esmatges and José Luis Adarraga. The current NIN9RS Games champion knows the season is long, but also that it’s not wise to let the leader open up a gap too early
Dacar Iron Masters present one of the most recognisable rosters in the tournament, with Daniel Berná, Scott Fernández, Pedro Oriol, Juan Salama and Antonio Hortal. Lots of experience, lots of competitive golf and more than enough ability to place several players high up in the standings. And many home players who want to make their mark
Also worth watching closely are Andalucía Penguins, who field Mario García Garoz, Enrique Marín, Zak Karkaletsos and Emilio Hernández, as well as Madrid Warriors, who are essentially playing at home with Sandro Barrio, Pepe Isbert, Pablo Hernández, Pedro Rabadán and Javier Herrero
The list is completed by Mermaos by Aiuken, who will include Vicente Blázquez, Chisco Lagarto, Carlos Suneson, Rafael Benítez and Carlos Balmaseda; Galicia Pulpos, with Antón Vázquez, Luis Portela, Ignacio Sánchez-Palencia, Ignacio Mateo and Santiago Tarrío; Dhamma Blue Barbarians, with David Salgado, Sigot López, Gregorio Ferrández, Hugo Espósito and Julio Moreno; and Eggs Golf Marbella, with Víctor Mouttet, José Manuel Garzón and Christian Asensio
The key, as it’s an individual event, will be depth. It is no longer enough for a pair to work well or for a combination to click. Here each team needs as many players as possible within the hot zone of the leaderboard. At Izki, Xorkyo Frogs set the bar very high. Madrid will decide whether that was only an initial show of authority or the warning from a team that intends to dominate the season from the start
Line-ups for the Campeonato de Madrid de Profesionales
Xorkyo Frogs
Borja Martín
Asier Aguirre
David Borda
Borja Virto
Javier Sainz
Codex Golf Linces
Alfonso Buendía
Manuel Ballesteros
Joseba Torres
Álvaro Velasco
Valencia Vikings
Liam Murray
Rubén Lafuente
Carlos Abril
José Manuel Lara
Jordan Gibb
Atlas Golf Lleida
Emilio Cuartero
Gerard Piris
Alejandro Esmatges
José Luis Adarraga
Dacar Iron Masters
Daniel Berná
Scott Fernández
Pedro Oriol
Juan Salama
Antonio Hortal
Andalucía Penguins
Mario García Garoz
Enrique Marín
Zak Karkaletsos
Emilio Hernández
Madrid Warriors
Sandro Barrio
Pepe Isbert
Pablo Hernández
Pedro Rabadán
Javier Herrero
Mermaos by Aiuken
Vicente Blázquez
Chisco Lagarto
Carlos Suneson
Rafael Benítez
Carlos Balmaseda
Galicia Pulpos
Antón Vázquez
Luis Portela
Ignacio Sánchez-Palencia
Ignacio Mateo
Santiago Tarrío
Dhamma Blue Barbarians
David Salgado
Sigot López
Gregorio Ferrández
Hugo Espósito
Julio Moreno
Eggs Golf Marbella
Víctor Mouttet
José Manuel Garzón
Christian Asensio
