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'07 Runner-up Eager for Revenge
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, México -- Argentina's Jose Coceres will return to compete in the Mayakoba Golf Classic and leads a group of Latin American, Spanish and Mexican competitors who are preparing for the second edition of this historic championship scheduled for February 20-24 at El Camaleón Golf Club at Mayakoba.
 | | In 2007, Coceres came from two strokes back to force a playoff with Funk. |
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The inaugural Mayakoba Golf Classic featured players representing 20 different countries - the highest number of countries represented by any non-major, PGA TOUR event in 2007.
Coceres finished second to inaugural champion Fred Funk last year. In the final round, he came from two strokes back to force a playoff with Funk, the 54-hole leader. However, Funk rolled in a birdie putt on the second extra hole to claim the title.
Following the playoff, Coceres, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, was proud of finishing second and looked forward to returning to Mayakoba. "Mexico is a great country and it's been a great host and we all enjoyed it. I myself will be very happy to come back. Now that I have almost won the tournament, I will certainly look forward to the next one," he said.
Also returning will be Mexican native Esteban Toledo, a veteran member of the PGA TOUR, who is proud of the PGA TOUR stop in his homeland. "This tournament is opening doors. It's a big step to have a tournament here. Within the next ten years our place in the game will grow exponentially because we have the facilities, money and courses necessary to put on a world-class event," said Toledo, who was raised in Mexicali, Mexico.
Two of the game's potential young stars Spaniards Pablo Martin and Alejandro Canizares will also return to the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Martin, who played in last year's event as an amateur played in six TOUR events, finished tied for 63rd in the Mayakoba Golf Classic and a few months later the was 30th at the U.S. Open. Martin, the 2007 Estoril Open de Portugal winner was the 2006 Collegiate Player of the Year at Oklahoma State. Canizares, a four-time All-American and 2003 NCAA Champion at Arizona State is from Maniliva, Malaga Spain. He won the European Tour's Russian Open in 2006.
Madrid's Santiago Luna has also accepted an invitation to play in this year's championship. Luna turned pro in 1982 and earned over $1 million pounds on the European Tour during his career. Earlier, Gonzalo Fernandez Castano accepted an invitation to play in this year's championship. Also from Madrid, Castano has won two times on the European Tour and was the Rookie of the Year in 2005.
It is important to note that players (top 64 in the World Golf Rankings) may still qualify for the World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, AZ scheduled the same week as the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Also, players have until Friday before the Mayakoba Golf Classic to express their intentions to compete in the 132-player field coming to Mexico for the four-round $3.5 million USD stroke-play competition.
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by visiting the tournament website www.mayakobagolfclassic.com or by calling 011 52 (984) 873-4916 in Mexico or 888-66-SHARK in the U.S. Local residents can purchase tickets at area golf pro shops within the Cancun and Riviera Maya region.
For more information on the Mayakoba Golf Classic please contact the tournament office at Mayakoba at 011 52 (984) 873-4916 or visit www.mayakobagolfclassic.com.
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