Negreanu Wins Fairways and Felts Challenge

Daniel Negreanu took down first place at the Fairways and Felts tournament, a side event at the European Poker Tour: Vilamoura tournament. The tournament was a unique mixture of poker and golf that rewarded players for solid play on the golf course with more chips on the poker table.

The €1,100 buy-in event kicked off with a golf event, in which three and four player teams played in a Texas Scramble event on the Pinhal Course. Teams were competing to earn special awards that would earn them additional chips for the poker tournament, where the real prize money would be awarded.

In the golf section, Dutch golfer Willem Vork led the winning team that also included John Duthie and Joachim Selzer. The three put up a score of -11 (eleven under par). While players were guaranteed to start with at least 5,000 chips, teams and individuals could earn more through scoring well and winning the longest drive, closest to the pin and longest put competitions. The -11 score was good enough to earn those three players a starting stack of 10,500 chips. Meanwhile, Negreanu’s team – which also included Marcin Horecki and professional golfer Tom Larsen – scored -5, which gave Negreanu a comfortable 7,500 chips to start the event.

The turnout was small for this unique event, with only 14 competitors taking part. Negreanu made it to heads up play against Pieter De Korver, winner of the 2009 European Poker Tour Grand Final. A five hour match ensued, with Negreanu finally taking down the first place prize when his QJ defeated De Korver’s J2 on a jack-high flop.

For finishing in first place, Negreanu took home €8,000 – a small sum by modern tournament standards, but not bad for a day of golf and some friendly poker. De Korver won €4,444 for second place.

The Fairways and Felts tournament was sponsored by PokerStars, who also sponsor the European Poker Tour. The tournament was hosted by JP Kelly, and featured a prize ceremony for winners both on the golf course and in the poker room.