156 players. 30 countries. 4 days. 3 tours. €1 million euro prize fund. The Champion? Dylan Frittelli, the young 27-year old South African pro, who beat Arjun Atwal in a playoff. The latter, has nonetheless set a record nine-under par 62 with a four-stroke lead in the first round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (and this after a 16-hour flight and no practice round) and has dominated the leaderboard until the final round.
In addition to the €1 million euro prize fund, participants who landed a Hole-in-One on hole 15 could win unlimited holidays for a year at Heritage Le Telfair, and a brand new Jaguar F-type for an Albatross on Hole 18.
This year’s tournament was dubbed “the most beautiful week in golf” and rightfully so: The players got to soak up the sun while playing on Heritage Golf Club’s stunning greens (which, for the fourth consecutive year, was awarded the title of “Best Indian Ocean Golf Course” by the World Golf Awards) after which they could relax with a cold beer on the beach, enjoy a swim in the crystalline lagoon, race against each other in the pool, check into the spa and indulge in a true breakfast of champions.
Amateurs were able to play alongside pros in a Pro-Am tournament in which local golfers and two winners of a Facebook contest we organized teamed up with pro golfers. A golf clinic was a chance for the young ones to learn the basics from the pros, an initiative that encourages the sport among our local youth. The pros confronted Liverpool football legends Ian Rush, Vladimir Smicer, Patrik Berger and Gary McAllister, in a round of FootGolf… In other words, everyone had a good time.
Heritage Resorts’ both unusual and unusually wide offer meant that guests and golfers could partake in an astounding array of events, parties, auction (a 1984 Liverpool European cup shirt signed by Ian Rush was auctioned off), dinners and cocktails at the two fabulous five-stars, the historic grounds of the Château, Heritage Nature Reserve, C Beach Club and a dozen restaurants. These venues, combined with the Heritage savoir-faire contributed to making ABMO a real golf fest.
The ABMO launch party was held at Heritage Le Telfair, which looked particularly exquisite with a variety of food stations set around the pool. Le Palmier was transformed into an open-kitchen with spit-roasted wild boar from Heritage Nature Reserve. It is against a backdrop of dazzling reds and pink that our guests enjoyed their fabulous evening party.
The beach chic-themed Cut Party was held was Heritage Awali. The guests, whose faces were adorned with makeup done by makeup artists, danced barefoot on the sand late into the night. A number of shows by local talent including a mesmerizing fire show had the guests in awe. At the tournament, our guests were given VIP passes so they could pop by the VIP tents flowing with Baron de Rothschild champagne and Ernie Els wines (perfectly paired with canapés and yummy treats.) The attendees received polo shirts, umbrellas, caps, sunglasses and fans to withstand the summer heat, and had the chance to win some great prizes including helicopter rides and even a stay for two at Heritage Le Telfair.
ABMO, the first tri-sanctioned tournament in the world is the biggest sports event in the Indian Ocean, underscoring Mauritius as a favored golf destination (there are close to a dozen golf courses on our tiny rock!) The golfers, whose lounge was at the C Beach Club, claimed it to be the “best player’s lounge in the world!”
What a week!
#ABMO #Heritageresorts #Mauritius
