How Olympus won the Iberian Teams Cup with Dani Coleman
Olympus 1 from Can Rafel brought a greater exposure to competitive Pitch and Putt and plain old Catalan knowhow to Urduna for the inaugural Teams Open. These were crucial aspects of their win. "I think one of the main key factors was experience. Many players would never have encountered a course like the one we played and I think this played a huge part," says Dani Coleman, whose competently played singles rounds were integral to the Catalan quartet's victory in the Basque Country. Of course, Coleman has been to the fore in international singles before. His 46 in the second round of the 2010 European Team championship qualifying is the still the all-time low 2nd round score in that event.
On the new Urduna course, solid rather than extravagant play was the basis of the victory. "Kike and Jose were a strong partnership and myself playing individual made up a solid team. Nothing spectacular but very regular which stood us in a good position to win," is Coleman's astute assessment. Coleman contibuted carefully played singles rounds of 56, 59 and 55 in his team's eleven stroke victory.
2010 European Team championship winner Dani is very generous in his praise of the Olympus 1 fourball combination."Kike and Jose played very well, and complemented each other in moments of difficulties. Again this was a new experience for them and they coped extremely well and the results showed this." With rounds of 54, 56 and 52, Enrique (Kike) Jaén and José Manuel Rodriguez were level par for their three fourball betterball tours of the Urduna track.
Olympus 1 recruited a very high profile late replacement to the four person format in the shape of FIPPA President Victor Moscatel. "As we were three, Victor was asked if he would like to play on our team and played with me individually," explains Dani. "He started well but again the course was tough and I think as a result of this the course eventually wore him down, but he was a fantastic person to have play next to me."
The Urduna layout opened just last November but Dani is already a fan."The course was in great condition and a real test of ball control and distance. It is one of the most difficult courses I have played and rivals any Irish course in terms of technical difficulties."
Dani Coleman is an enthusiastic supporter of Catalan domestic competition and is a former Catalan Absolut (Strokeplay) champion as well as 2010 Catalan Doubles champion (with Luis Grifé). "I hope to do well in the Catalan Strokeplay competition, my favourite above all." The Birmingham, England native also harbours further international aspirations for the 2017 season. "And I will travel to Galicia to take part in the World Cup Doubles with my partner David Sole. I just hope he will have a good weekend as he can be a little inconsistent!"
Come 2018, Galicia will host the II Iberian Teams Cup and Dani will travel west again, if required. "I hope to help Olympus retain the Iberian Cup next year, if I have the pleasure to play for them again. I want to thank all the players on my team, team B included." The Olympus 2 team were second after the opening 18 holes before fading to finish tenth.
Dani, who helped Can Rafel to win the 2008 and 2010 Catalan Team championships, singles out Olympus 1 team skipper Enrique (Kike) Jaén for specific praise. "A special thanks to Enrique Jaén. My Captain tremendous!"
