BÁVARO, La Altagracia Province – Amateur golfer Carlos Manuel Linarez emerged as the top player at the 19th Punta Blanca Golf Club Invitational Tournament, an event dedicated this year to Francisco Torres “Cuqui,” a driving force behind golf and Dominican sports.
Linarez won the Overall Best Gross Score with 149 strokes after two outstanding rounds of golf on the Nick Price-designed course. “It was two days of intense competition, but I know the course very well, and that allowed me to achieve the victory,” Carlos said following the awards ceremony.
Francisco Torres, for his part, said he was delighted to have been selected as the honoree of the 2026 tournament. “I feel very honored by this dedication, led by its General Manager, Antonio Ramis, its Director of Golf, Tomás Mercedes, and its Administrative Director, Angelina Taveras. For me, this event will be unforgettable,” Francisco said.
The tournament featured 128 players per day and was played in an Individual Stroke Play format. Activities began Friday with a cocktail and gala dinner, during which Francisco Torres was formally recognized. He expressed great emotion upon receiving the commemorative plaque dedicated to him.
The two rounds were played on Saturday and Sunday, concluding with the awards ceremony in the event hall at Majestic Resorts.
WINNERS: In addition to Carlos, Rodrigo Santana took first place net in Category A, followed by Jan Giha in second and Jensen Martinez in third.
In Category B, Jayson Ventura won the gross competition with 157 strokes. Antonio Gelabert took first place net, with Ruddy Daly in second and Julián Rodriguez in third.
In Category C, Gustavo Gimondo won the gross title with 162 strokes. Sandy Montero took first place net, followed by Pablo Collazo in second and Franz Acevedo in third.
Teofilo Valera dominated Senior A with 145 strokes, followed by Luis Escolastico, Freddy Sierra in second place, and Conrado Soliman in third.
Pedro Vizcaíno won the Senior B gross title with 145 strokes, while Juan Nolasco won the net competition, with Narciso Morales finishing second and Roberto Alvarez third.
Among the women, Cecilia Rosado was the gross champion with 153 strokes, while Escarlin Benitez won first place net. Ekaterina Rysenteva and Lisbet de la Cruz finished second and third, respectively.
In the special prizes for women, Ekaterina Rysenteva won the closest-to-the-pin competition in both the first and second rounds. Elizabeth Fisher won the most accurate drive in the first round, while Escarlin Benitez won the longest drive in the second round.
Among the men, Freddy Sierra won closest-to-the-pin and Jensen Martinez the most accurate drive in the first round. In the second round, Christian de los Santos won closest-to-the-pin, while Rodrigo Santana took the longest-drive award.
The tournament featured more than 120 raffle prizes and concluded in an excellent atmosphere of camaraderie and respect among all participants.
