In 2018, at the World Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC) World Final, played at Oitavos Dunes, in Cascais, the Portuguese team of Carlos Tinoco and Luís Albuquerque Rodrigues started the last round in the lead, but a sensational performance by the Thai Pim Surintarangoul allowed her and her partner, the British Paul Judge, to recover the 8 points they started behind, and the world champion title went to the Phuket’s Prime Real Estate.
Carlos Tinoco still feels that second place in his throat. “We sunk in the last two holes,” he recalls bitterly. “But this year we’re going to win,” he adds with conviction.
The Clínica Dentária Laranjo Tinoco will, in fact, have a second chance in 2021, when the 28th WCGC World Final returns to the Oitavos, from 1st to 5th of November.
The same Portuguese pair won the 22nd WCGC National Final, promoted by Golftattoo Eventos, at West Cliffs, in Óbidos, played in greensomes, with special sponsorship from Audi.
The Clínica Dentária Laranjo Tinoco scored 41 net points and beat by just 3 points the No. 1 team of Garofalo, another sponsor of the event. Garofalo trusted its colours to another former world runner-up team (in 2015 ), the team formed by Rui Coelho (from Norgolfe-Nike Portugal) and Ricardo Pereira (the famous football goalkeeper, now a commentator on SportTV).
It was a close duel between these two teams, with a total of 17 pairs that qualified for the National Final by Audi. The other ones were SE2P Sociedade de Engenharia, Pavigarden, Santa Marta, Belmar, Algarve Invest, Nau Hotels & Resorts, Powerhour Socontentores, Casablanca, Eu Tou Ka, Coral/Flinstones, Padaria Trigo Bom, JS Partners, Everydaysport and Executive Digest.
Carlos Tinoco admits that “we had luck” the day they qualified at Morgado Golf Resort for the National Final. On the other hand, he assures that in Óbidos they played at a very high level, the result of a refined preparation.
“We went to West Cliffs to practice twice before the Final and it wasn’t just to play the course, it was to practice. We took measurements, we decided which clubs to play in each hole, we studied the spots we wanted to reach. For instance, on the Par-5, the option was for me to tee off, Luís gave the second shots and I shot the green, almost always with a sand wedge. We never risked trying to reach the green in two. And we had no three-putts at all”, explained the former president of the Viseu Golf Club.
“I’ve been playing WCGC since 2000 and I love this tournament. I liked it a lot when the teams had four players and the three best results were used on each hole, but these greensomes in pairs is a lot of fun. It requires good coordination, it is important for the partners to get along well and Luis and I are friends”, he underlined.
Carlos Tinoco also cared to play greensomes the day before and was ready for the West Cliffs challenge, but his partner was even better and truly inspired.
“Luís lives in France, his parents are from Viseu. He recently had a daughter and due to the COVID19, he decided to come to Portugal for a while. He took the opportunity to take the graduation 1 of the golf coaches course from the Portuguese Golf Federation and the PGA of Portugal and has been playing every day.
In this WCGC National Final by Audi, he was just fabulous. He was the one who won the tournament for us”, said the dental clinic doctor.
Their next stage is the WCGC World Final in Cascais and their eyes are on the World Championship title!
World Corporate Golf Challenge Portugal thanks to the support of all sponsors and partners of the event:
AUDI, GAROFALO, APMADEIRA, COSTA VERDE, BANANA DA MADEIRA, BAUERFEIND, ANDROS, BDR, BEE, BONNE MAMAN, CASABLANCA, DO ALENTEJO, DELIFRANCE, DISTINTUS, SUPERBOCK, FREIXENET, SEGAFREDO, MONDEGA, SAMSUNG, USPOT, TATARA, SANTOS E VALE, TURKISH AIRLINES, URIAGE, MONTELLANO, CASA IBÉRICA, BELMAR, FOOL GIN, ADEGA DO REDONDO, UZINA, MARKETEER, EXECUTIVE DIGEST, GOLF REPORT, CLUBE DE GOLFE SANTO DA SERRA, MONTADO, AXIS GOLFE PONTE DE LIMA, MORGADO GOLF COURSE, WEST CLIFFS, EVOLUTEE HOTEL, DIARIO DE NOTICIAS, PUBLICO ONLINE, FEDERAÇÃO PORTUGUESA DE GOLFE
