A Galician with game - Peter Mervin Henry
In May, Galicia’s No. 2 ranked player Peter Mervin Henry realised one of his big Pitch and Putt ambitions by winning an international open.
The 2026 Euskadi Open took place at Urduna from May 29th to 31st.
Peter Mervin Henry emerged as a worthy winner, shooting a final round of 52 and a five under par three-round aggregate of 157. That proved a single stroke better than overnight leader Toni Armengol (Andorra) who fired a final round of 55.
Toni Armengol (Andorra) had scored Saturday rounds of 52 and 51 for a five under par 36-hole tally of 103 and took a two stroke lead into Sunday’s final round. Peter Mervin Henry was second on 105, after scoring 52 and 53 on Saturday.
That international open win was a natural progression from a brace of international open pairs successes, partnered by Victor Rodriguez.
Victor and Peter emerged victorious after a sudden death play-off (that lasted five holes) for the 2022 Ourense International Pairs tournament. Teo Fernandez & Antonio Sánchez (Galicia) conjured up a phenomenal 41 in the final round (Chapman Greensomes format) at Ourense to force that play-off (after a tie on 28 under par 134) with Rodriguez and Mervin who scored 47 on Sunday.
Victor and Peter had taken a three stroke lead into the final round. A superb 43 in the Fourball at Ourense gave Rodriguez and Mervin a 36-hole aggregate of 21 under par 87. Moises Iriarte and Alejandro Fernandez (Galicia) were second on 90 (47+43).
Victor and Peter had carded a brilliant 44 to hold a three stroke lead after the first round. of Greensomes at Pazo do Lago from another two Galician pairings - Tomas Escarda and Daniel Fuentes along with Moises Iriarte and Alejandro Fernandez.
A Pitch and Putt stalwart for a decade and a half, Peter was crowned champion of Galicia in 2013 and 2015. He plays in most of the major tournaments in Galicia, including the famous annual Ourense Pitch and Putt marathon.
Peter experienced an emotional win in the Nacho Prada Internatuonal Pairs, partnered by Victor Rodriguez in the 2025 renewal. The win came not long after Peter’s great friend Nacho (RIP) passed away
Rodriguez and Mervin, who led overnight, posted a final round of 46 and won by three strokes from Moises Iriarte and Pablo Taboada (Galicia) who also scored eight under par on Sunday. Rodrigeuz and Mervin signed for 137 overall to win the event for the second time.
Impressive Saturday rounds of 44 (Fourball at Pozo do Lago) and 47 (Greensomes at Ourense) saw Rodriguez and Mervin seventeen under par on 91 and holding a two stroke lead into the final round of Chapman Greensomes
A member of Ourense Pitch and Putt club, Peter has represented Galicia in two World Cups. He played in the 2012 championship at Royal Meath and at Xixerella four years later. His World Cup Matchplay record is P12 W4 H2 L6
Xixerella was also the venue in 2014 for Peter’s European Team championship appearance His ETC Matcjplay record is P6 W1 H1 L4.
Peter Mervin Henry’s most memorable appearance in the Galicia colours came in the 2022 Five Nations Tournament at the Ourense course. When hosts Galicia celebrated their first ever success in the event
The home side collected all eight singles points on offer, including a vital singles win by Peter Mervin Henry over Antonio Penalva (by 3&2) The Galicians finished the event on 22 points, 0.5 ahead of holders Catalonia.
Catalonia won all of their Sunday morning Foursomes matches and led at that stage on 15.5, 1.5 ahead of Galicia with just the singles to play. The Foursomes matches were interrupted by rain and thunder.
Galicia won all of their Saturday evening Greensomes matches (Peter linking with Alejandro Fernández for a statement 5&3 win over Oriol Mas and Joel Girbau) and trailed holders Catalonia by just half a point heading into Sunday's foursomes and singles matches.
Catalonia won all four of their Saturday afternoon fourballs to top the points table on 9 at that stage, ahead of Galicia on 7. The hosts claimed three fourball wins (including a 3&2 success for Peter alongside Victor Rodriguez over Frenchmen Michael Espanol and Eric Biget).
Catalonia led the way on five points after the first Round Strokeplay. The Catalans scored 298 (-26) for the best six scores out of eight to finish just one stroke clear of the hosts. Galicia gained four points for their 299 (to which Peter contributed a 53) total in second place.
