2023-10-19 04:00:13
“We are going to try to do our best, and that is, obviously, trying to win.” The Asturians Miguel Díaz-Negrete Palacio, Pablo Alperi and Dani Granda, captained by Miguel Díaz-Negrete Sanz, will represent Spain in the European Interclub Golf Championship to be held in Troia, Portugal, from October 26 to 28. They will defend the shield of the Castiello Golf Club, an entity that will fight for the title for the fifth time. “It is a source of pride and enormous merit that with only 800 members we are once again among 21 countries competing for victory,” remarks the captain, also the father of the only player who has participated in the four previous continental editions.
The move to the European Championship began in Seville. The Castiello Golf Club won the ticket after becoming champion of Spain in the capital of Seville with the same team that will travel to Portugal, plus Alberto Fernández López, who will cheer on his teammates from home as the continental tournament format is reduced to just three players. “It was the first time that we achieved the national championship outside of Asturias. In previous editions (2002, 2007 and 2015) we did it in Castiello,” highlights Miguel Díaz-Negrete Sanz. At 73 years old, the veteran of the group is the one who tempers the nerves and regulates the ambition of the only Asturian club that has competed, so far, in a European championship. “Remember that golf is the sport of humility,” he repeats to his pupils, who are clearly eager to start kicking in Troia.
The Díaz-Negrete family’s link with the Castiello Golf Club goes beyond sports. “My grandparents, on my father’s and mother’s side, are founding partners,” says Miguel Díaz-Negrete Palacio, the captain’s son and a 44-year-old native of Gijón who combines sports with his profession as a technical architect. He has been playing golf since he was eight years old, has been Spanish mid-amateur champion twice and won the only national team title for the Asturias team. “Our best result in the European Championship was fourth place. Winning now in Portugal would mean making history. It would be a very important milestone,” he says.
The youngest of the group is Pablo Alperi, the great promise of Asturian golf and, probably, a professional player in a few months (the region currently only has two Asturians on the professional circuit, García-Heredia and Iván Cantero). Gijónés, 20 years old, has been at the club for the last six years, has been the absolute Spanish pitch and putt champion, is a regular on the national teams and has already played in a European Championship with the Spanish under-18 team. “Be careful with the English, they have two very quarrelsome ones, but we are going to win. If we don’t have that mentality, why are we going to play then,” he decides between the knowing smile of his teammates. His is the most energetic profile.
The last to arrive at Castiello was Dani Granda González. Avilesino, 30 years old, with a unique career. “It’s my first year here and they have welcomed me like a real family,” says who, after starting out with sticks at the age of eight, decided to take a break to try paddle tennis. In this sport he was four times absolute champion in Asturias, but… “I returned to golf, I started to take it more seriously and I am happy to have been able to win the opportunity to play in this European Championship,” confesses who combines birdies with his work in the golf company. Pemesa fluid engineering. “Do you know what the secret is for the club to be back in Europe? The great level that exists between these three players and many others who have competed against them in a field as complicated as Castiello. We have a very good batch” , concludes the captain.
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