Chile Classic enjoys spectacular lift off from helipad

If you want to launch a golf tournament in style, then just take a leaf out of the Chile Classic book.

Santiago – The third edition of the event was introduced in spectacular fashion when players, including Chile’s Benjamin Alvarado, struck shots from the helipad of the Telefonica tower.

The action gets under way for real at the Prince of Wales Country Club on Thursday and will continue until Sunday’s fourth and final round.

The competition of the PGA Web.com Tour, will have 144 players, nine of them Chileans. It has a bumper prize fund of US $650,000, so a few lost balls struck from the helipad won’t make much of a dent.

Alvarado, who finished fourth in 2013 and has a much-coveted PGA Tour card, said the Chilean tournament is at the same level as the best events of the PGA Web.com Tour.
“A year ago I was giving everything at this tournament and one year later I have a PGA Tour card. It will be an amazing experience. There’s an excellent field and the organization has been flawless,” said Alvarado.

The other Chileans in the line-up are Felipe Aguilar, Mark Tullo, Martin Ureta, Nicolas Geiger, Juan Cerda, Santiago Russi, Christian Espinoza and Hugo Leon.

Tournament organisers are confident that Chilean golf fans will be in for a real treat this week.

Alejandro Peric, tournament director and chief of Podium Sports Management, said: “In this third edition of the Chile Classic we will have world-class players. We are very proud because it means that the tournament is growing over the years. For us it’s a big satisfaction to have top golf players.”

It’s a big couple of weeks for golf in Chile. The golf tournament in the South American Games takes place from March 13 to 16 at the Club de Polo y Equitación in Vitacura.

Tags: Benjamin Alvarado, Chile Classic, Golf