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The DR Open, the biggest, most important golf event to take place in Casa de Campo’s 40 year history is already underway! The DR Open golf tournament organised by the Dominican Federation of Golf (FEDOGOLF) is the 7th stop of the NEC Series – PGA Tour Latinoamérica, and will be the first time the Casa de Campo resort has hosted a professional golf tournament.
Although the majority of the competitors of the DR Open, arrived on Sunday and have already been playing practice rounds on the Teeth of the Dog over the past 2 days, the DR Open in Casa de Campo officially opens this morning, Wednesday May 14th.
The opening ceremony will take place at the Teeth of the Dog at 9am, where the flags of the 25 participating countries will be raised. Among the 25 countries represented in the DR Open in Casa de Campo are the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, France, Canada, Spain, Puerto Rico, Columbia, Austria, Venezuela, Italy, Chile, Britain and of course the Dominican Republic.
Following the inauguration of the DR Open in Casa de Campo, the DR Open ProAm will be played on the Teeth of the Dog. Participating in the ProAm will be some of the professional golfers taking part in the championship who will be paired with groups of 3 amateurs. The winners of the DR Open Pro-Am will be announced this evening at the welcome gala for the DR Open.
Also taking place during the welcome gala of the DR Open in Casa de Campo are the inductions into the Dominican Golf Hall of Fame, when Pete Dye, golf course architect of the Teeth of the Dog will become the first non-Dominican to be inducted. (Click here to read more about Pete Dye and his induction into the Dominican Golf Hall of Fame.)
The championship rounds of the DR Open, the 7th stop of the NEC Series – PGA Tour Latinoamérica, will then open on Thursday morning with 144 professional golfers teeing off around the Teeth of the Dog with hopes of winning part of the US$150,000 prize money.
The championship rounds will be played on the Teeth of the Dog Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and each day part of the group of professionals will be eliminated from the tournament until on Sunday only 55 finalists remain. These 55 finalists will each win part of the US$150,000 prize money, while the overall winner of the DR Open in Casa de Campo will take home a grand total of US$25,000.
The winner of the DR Open will join David Venegas and Marcelo Rozo of Venezuela, Armando Favela of Mexico, as well as Daniel Mazziotta, William Kropp and Ty Capps as winners in the NEC Series – PGA Tour Latinoamérica.
Some of the most well-known professional golfers playing in the DR Open in Casa de Campo are Puerto Rican Rafael Campos, Robert Rohanna and Rick Cochran III from the US, Rodolfo Cauzabon and Mauricio Azcue from Mexico, as well as Argentinians Tommy Cocha, Daniel Domínguez and Julián Etulian.
The Dominican Republic will be represented by Julio Santos, Willy Pumarol, Cledis Cordova, Juan Carlos Perelló, as well as amateur players George Riley, Radames Peña, Francisco Pichardo, Juan José Guerra and Hiram Silfa, who all qualified to take part in the qualifying round played on Monday on the Teeth of the Dog.
“It is a great honor for Casa de Campo to celebrate it’s 40th anniversary as the host of this great event. Casa de Campo is recognized as the best golf resort in Latin America, with the best golf courses in the region, there is no better place to determine the champion of the DR Open,” said Peter Bonell, chief marketing officer of the Casa de Campo resort.
DR Open golf tournament: Event Schedule
Monday May 12th
9am: Qualifying round for unranked players on the Teeth of the DogTuesday May 13th
7:30am – 5pm: Practice rounds on the Teeth of the DogWednesday May 14th
9am: ProAm tournament on the Teeth of the Dog
2pm: Practice rounds on the Teeth of the Dog
7pm: Welcome dinner and inductions into the Dominican Golf Hall of FameThursday May 15th
7am: First tournament round on the Teeth of the DogFriday May 16th
7am: Second tournament round on the Teeth of the DogSaturday May 17th
7am: Third tournament round on the Teeth of the DogSunday May 18th
7am: Final tournament round on the Teeth of the Dog, followed by the prize-giving
How to enjoy the DR Open in Casa de Campo
Casa de Campo villa owners
All Casa de Campo villa owners and residents are welcome to come and watch any or all of the tournament rounds of the DR Open in Casa de Campo. Throughout the contest, volunteers will be on the Teeth of the Dog directing and helping people who wish to watch. Instructions and rules from the PGA will be enforced. A few key rules to be aware of:
- Golf carts will not be allowed on the Teeth of the Dog throughout the DR Open. In this type of event it is customary for spectators to walk around the course. However, for those who prefer not to walk the entire 18 holes, there will be designated golf cart parking areas near the entrance to many holes, so that you can drive along the road and then walk onto the course.
- Spectators may not approach the professional players for autographs or photographs during a round.
- All telephones must be on silent.
Outside guests
- Visitors not staying within the Casa de Campo resort, will be able to gain access by showing a valid photo ID.
- These guests will then park at the Casa de Campo polo fields, from where they will be transported to the Teeth of the Dog golf course.
- Once at the Teeth of the Dog golf course, guests are invited to walk around the course and enjoy the contest.
If you have any questions about enjoying the DR Open golf tournament in Casa de Campo, please contact: (809) 523 8115