ALAN McINALLY WINS FOOTBALLERS' CLASSIC AT LA MANGA

NEWS RELEASE 

Former Aston Villa and Scotland striker Alan McInally gained revenge on his narrow defeat to Steve Lovell last year by turning the tables on the defending champion to clinch victory in the 2012 Addison Lee Footballers’ Golf Classic at La Manga Club.

The Sky Sports pundit finished three points adrift of the ex-Millwall and Wales frontman in the 54-hole event at the luxury five-star Spanish resort in 2011 but it was a different story 12 months later.

McInally took control on the final day as leader Chris Nicholl slipped back to take the coveted title with 103 points, four clear of Lovell who claimed second place on countback from ex-Crystal Palace midfielder Stuart Massey.

This year’s field for the annual event was one of the strongest ever assembled with the likes of Ipswich manager Paul Jewell, former Nottingham Forest and England defender Des Walker and ex-Chelsea and Scotland star David Speedie among the star-studded line-up.

Nicholl started strongly to lead after the first day with 37 points and was still three points ahead of McInally with 18 holes remaining but he crumpled under pressure, only managing 29 points in the third round to eventually finish fourth.

Each day of the competition saw the footballers play with a different group of three golfers who were competing for a team prize – sponsored by Addison Lee, London’s leading minicab company – with two rounds being played on La Manga Club’s South Course and one on the North Course.

Overall victory went to the side consisting of Mike Holt, Brian Maxwell and Geoff Patch who took top prize with 249 points, while the 'Body Parts' team of Michael Dick, Dave Harris and Marc Harris won the one-day Alan Ball Trophy with the help of record-breaking veteran Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pat Jennings.

The luxurious setting of La Manga Club is the ideal venue for the competition with its three championship golf courses perfectly complemented by the rest of the resort’s wide-ranging facilities, including a 28-court tennis centre and 2,000sqm spa complex.

The Addison Lee Footballers’ Golf Classic is organised by Mancini Events and next year’s event will take place at the award-winning venue from June 1-6, 2013.

For further information please visit www.mancinievents.co.uk, call 07918 644900 or email donna@mancinievents.co.uk. For more information on La Manga Club visit www.lamangaclub.com.