Day one of the UK's largest amateur golf tournament had a dramatic start when 16 teams from across the UK teed off in the Grand Final at the luxurious Marriott Taba Heights resort in Egypt.
In the first day of competition of the three- day tournament the leader board shows it will be a close competition for the contestants.
Leading the field so far in the men's pairs are Adam (aka Ziggy) Niblett and Luke Sandford from Rogiet in Wales with a score of 47.
In the mixed pairs Jim Giberson and Hanah Sneath took pole position with 43 points whilst in the men's non-active category Patrick Turtle and Cyril Morris lead with 33 points.
In what has been a record year for entries, teams from across the UK and Ireland have made it through to the prestigious Grand Final, for the three-day tournament which started on Monday, May 10, and will be covered by Sky Sports throughout.
In all eight men's pairs with active handicaps, six mixed pairs with active handicaps and two men's pairs with non-active handicaps will battle it out at the stunning location.
It has been a record year for entries in the Matchplay Championship which is now the UK's largest amateur golf tournament and a fixture on the golfing calendar with coverage of all the finals, including the UK Northern and Southern Finals, on Sky Sports.
"It promises to be a thrilling Grand Final – who's going to handle the pressure and be crowned 2010 Matchplay Champions?” said John Woosey, Managing Director of The Golfers Club which promotes the Matchplay Championship
"It's target golf out in Taba, a very unusual and challenging course. It's very different to what competitors face week-in and week out in the UK. It's a long course and was trickier today due to the breeze. Greens were marginally quicker than practice day which caught out a few and the temperature today was 34 degrees. Competitors have now left the course for the hotel (bar no doubt) and will start again for Day 2 at 8am tomorrow, with leaders out last."
Each finalist won their place on the plane to Egypt, 3-days of competition golf, seven nights' full board accommodation at the five star Marriott Taba Heights Golf Resort and will also attend a lavish prize-giving gala dinner.
The Matchplay Championship also recently announced that it will be hosting its 2010-11 grand final at The Els Club, Dubai.
The venue is a major coup for the prestigious tournament which was launched in 2003 giving all golfers, whether they are members of a club or not, the chance to win a trip of a lifetime and have their progress followed by the Sky Sports cameras, all for an entry fee of just £20 per person.
Entries are now open for the 2010-11 tournament which takes place on May 7-14, 2011, at the stunning course designed by Ernie Els, winner of a record seven World Matchplay titles.
They have until June 30 to enter and will then take part in regional qualifier rounds before a North and South regional final. In all 36 finalists will make it to the Dubai Grand Final, staying at the sumptuous Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel.
Headline sponsors of the event are Direct Golf UK, Rewards4Golf.com and Golf Monthly and the tournament, as well as the regional finals, will be covered by Sky Sports and the Daily Telegraph.
To enter the Matchplay Championship for 2010-11 or to find out more information, log onto
www.matchplaychampionship.co.uk.
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