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Broadhurst Defends Portuguese title at Le Meridien Penina
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Broadhurst Defends Portuguese title at Le Meridien Penina

After Frenchman Jean Van de Velde’s memorable victory on the Portuguese island of Madeira, The European Tour makes the short trip to the Algarve this week for the Algarve Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos, where England’s Paul Broadhurst defends the title against yet another high class field in Portugal.

It is almost a year since Broadhurst won his fifth European Tour title by capitalising on the misfortune of his good friend and countryman, Barry Lane, to win at Quinta da Marinha, and many of the players who contested the battle for the 2005 Estoril Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos will be doing their utmost to relieve Broadhurst of his crown.

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie took second place a year ago and, having returned to competitive action in Madeira last week where he showed real signs of a return to top form, will be among the favourites to go one better at the outstanding Le Meridien Penina Golf & Resort this year.

Currently fifth in The European Tour’s Order of Merit, Englishman Nick Dougherty is another obvious danger after a healthy start to his 2006 campaign with four top five finishes in his nine starts so far this season.

Given their last result on the Algarve, Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge could be another serious threat to the field. It was just over six months ago that the Welsh pair won the WGC – Algarve World Cup in Portugal at Victoria Clube de Golfe and they will surely be buoyed by the positive memories of what was an outstanding performance in the event reduced to 54 holes.

Dredge is certainly looking forward to the week ahead. The 32 year old was quick to point out that Welsh success in Portugal in not an uncommon occurrence.

“It will be great to go back to the Algarve – I just hope that I’m leading after the third round and it rains so hard the final round gets cancelled!” he joked. “Seriously though, to win the World Cup for Wales just capped a tremendous season for both myself and Stephen.

“It hadn’t been done since Ian Woosnam and David Llewellyn won it in 1987 so that shows you that it doesn’t happen that often, and to be able to return to the place it happened will hopefully bring me that bit of luck.

“I think there must be something about the Welsh in Portugal. Phil Price won a few years ago, I won in Madeira, Stephen and I won the World Cup and then Kyron Sullivan won the Challenge Tour event at Penha Longa just a few weeks ago so there are a lot of good omens for the Welsh boys next week.”

Price and Woosnam will also add their considerable presence at Le Meridien Penina Golf & Resort this week, with Europe’s 2006 Ryder Cup Captain bringing some added interest to the Algarve Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos as the countdown to The Ryder Cup continues.

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