International Golf Tournament
Inteco Russian Open Golf Championship 2008
26 July

Inteco Russian Open Golf Championship 2008 is taking place from 24th until 27th of July in Nakhabino, Moscow region.  Russia Open Golf Championship among professionals exists in Russia for 13 years and in the last 3 has the highest quotation and has become a significant part of PGA European Tour – one of the most important professional world golf tournaments.

Third round of the tournament started on 26th of July for those lucky golfers who made the cut. 73 out of 144 players from 15 countries continued the fight for the 2 000 000 dollars prize fund and golfers card for two years.

The day turned out to be sunny and propitious for many golfers and spectators who came to Le Meridien Moscow Country Club to witness the game. A lot of guests came to the tournament at the weekend. Among them were family couples, amateurs and connoisseurs of exclusive relaxation walking around the country side club, testing the cars provided by BMW, the official car sponsor of the tournament, and tasting fresh cocktails in the VIP bar while attentively following the course of the game.

“Great tournament and organization, - commented VIP guest and amateur Anna Hmelnitskaya. – I think that the level of Russian Open gets higher every year and attracts more professional golfers. I’m very glad to see my acquaintances from PGA - John Daly and Mark Foster - on the tournament. The fact that they have applied to take part in the tournament confirms that the championship has come to a high professional level. It’s a shame that our “Long John” didn’t make cut – it’s the biggest affliction of the whole tournament.”

As the day before, the course of the game changed every hour: the leader of two rounds Mikael Lundberg had to play in the second part of the day, only then it would be clear if he kept his leading position.

The best result of the 3d round showed Jamie Moul from England – 64 (-8), who swapped his 11th place to the 2. The 3d round and an eagle on Hole №2 helped another Englishman Benn Barham to go from 14th position to the 3d. The same position was taken by Michiel Bothma from RSA. He played confident, straight and only Holes № 8th and 17th brought him bogey. The fifth place is shared by the English Robert Rock and Darren Fichardt from rich for the professional golfers Republic of South Africa, with equal 203 (-13). In the 3d round players managed to do 5 eagles – 3 on Hole №2 and 2 on №15 with parr 5: thanks to that shot Lundberg held his leading position but didn’t repeat Backstrom’s splendid albatross, who in first round was in the first place. Now, Sweden born Joakim is in the 65th place, his result so far is 76 (+4). Jarmo Sandelin, the winner of the first two rounds, dropped from the first position down to the 5th, with 2 birdies and 2 bogeys which made a parr.

The lucky winner of еру first prize 333 330 dollars will be known on Sunday 27th, the last day of the Inteco Russian Open Golf Championship 2008. Also we will find out if anybody manages to set up a new record at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club and excel Swede Per-Ulrik Johansson, the winner of Russian Open Golf Championship 2007, who completed the game with 265 (-23).

After the exciting and spectacular game, all professional golfers and guests were invited to Gala Night organized on the VIP beach by Title partner of the Championship – building society ZAO “Inteco”. The theme of the event was “safari”. Many ladies supported the idea proposed by Elena Baturina, the president of the company, and Yuriy Lujkov, the mayor of Moscow, and came to the event “fully armed”: leopard prints on all kinds of garments  and accessories: dresses, clutches, bracelets and shirts.

“By supporting Inteco Russian Open Golf Championship 2008 we strive to further Russia to take deserved place on the world golf map, - says Elena Baturina. – Having such outstanding culture events like Gala Night Safari Party during the tournament is a significant part of popularization such kind of sport in our country”.

In the first part of the program an African ensemble performed fiery wild dances on the specially built in front of the auditorium stage. By the end of the evening guests were welcomed by Birmingham band UB 40, who played a full set of Reggie - hits. The concert program finished after the midnight but guests didn’t leave for a while discussing tomorrow’s last day of the championship.