With attendance of 23 different countries all over Europe, European Club Cup Trophy 2008 ended on Saturday. Last years champion France won the tournament at Klassis Golf Club once again this year. France declared their championship with a total of 423 team strokes.

The tournament was held at Klassis Golf & Country Club between the 23rd and 25th of October. France came 1st and 2nd this year, as they were the defeating champion, they had two team attending the tournament this year. France I (Saint Nom La Breteche) came 1st place with a total of 423 team strokes, France II ( Racing Club de France ) came 2nd place with a total of 426 team strokes. Spain (Raimat Golf Club ) came 3rd with a total of 429 team strokes, and with a total of 431 team strokes Germany ( Golf Club St. Leon-Rot e.V.) came 4th place. The Turkish team who had just returned from Australia for the World Amateur Team Championship came 5th with a total of 432 team strokes.

Hamza In First Five

In the European Club Cup Trophy, which is accepted as the most important team championship of Europe, Victor Dubuisson from France came 1st place in individual results with a total of 210 strokes. Another golfer from France, Romain Schneider came 2nd place with a total of 212 strokes. Carlos Pigem from Spain came 3rd place with 213 strokes, Florian Fritsch from Germany and Colm Campbell from Ireland came 4th with a total of 214 strokes. And Hamza Sayin from Turkey came 5th place with a total of 216 strokes.

The prizes and trophy of the winning team and players where given by the Turkish Golf Federation President Ahmet Agaoglu and EGA Board Member Paul Fisher.

Adelaide, Australia (18 October) - Antalya, Turkey has been selected as the site of the 2012 World Amateur Team Championships, the International Golf Federation (IGF) announced following its Biennial Meeting.

These Championships will be hosted by the Turkish Golf Federation. The 25th women's championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy and the 28th men's championship for the Eisenhower Trophy will be played in September of 2012.

" The International Golf Federation enthusiastically endorses the selection of Turkey to host the 2012 World Amateur Team Championship because it represents the continued growth of golf in diverse countries around the world, " Jim Vernon, IGF Joint Chairman said. " We also thank Austria and Italy for their well-organized and attractive bids."

"It is like a dream," Turkish Golf Federation President Ahmet Agaoglu said. "I could not dream of this four years ago. Golf is the fastest growing sport in Turkey and we were very keen to get these championships. This will help promote and grow golf in our country and as the number of golf courses will continue to increase year by year, the number of young players will as well."

Both championships, which gather the world's leading amateurs, are played over 72 holes of stroke play. Each country is represented by a team of three players.

The 2008 World Amateur Championships, hosted by Golf Australia, are currently being conducted at Royal Adelaide Golf Club and The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide. Sweden won the Espirito Santo Trophy on 11 October.

The 2010 Championship will be played in Buenos Aires, Argentina at Olivos Golf Club and Buenos Aires Golf Club.

The IGF was founded in 1958 to encourage the international development of golf and to employ the game as a vehicle to foster friendship and sportsmanship among the peoples of the world. Serving as the International Olympic Committee's recognized International Federation for golf, the IGF is comprised of the national governing bodies of golf in more than 110 countries.

World Amateur Team Championship which is defined as "Golf's Olympics" will be held in Turkey in 2012. Turkey became the host of the big organization after the voting held in Adelaide, Australia against Italy and Austria.

Turkey got 76 out of 92 votes. Established in 1996, The Turkish Golf Federation became the youngest federation that will host the World Amateur Team Championship in the history International Golf Federation.

Turkish Golf Federation President Ahmet Agaoglu, made a thanking speech among a big applause. Agaoglu addressing the members stated that "Your votes have opened a new page in Turkish Golf history. This organization will be a big step to introduce Turkey and Turkish Golf to the World. We are very happy and proud that we will host the most important organization for the most prestigious sport in the world."

The World Amateur Team Championship is organized in a different continent once every two years. Almost 100 countries will participate the event in men's and ladies' category with their best three players. Ladies compete for the Espirito Santo and men for the Eisenhower Trophy. The tournament which is held in Australia this year will be held in Argentina in 2010. World Amateur Team Championship 2012 will take place in Cornelia Golf Club, Gloria Golf Club and Antalya Golf Club in Belek, Antalya.

Turkish Golf Federation is working extensively for to get the World Amateur Team Championship organization which is the most important Amateur Golf competition in the world.

Turkey is going to compete with Austria and Italy at Adelaide Australia where 2008 World Amateur Team Championship will be held and election of the winning country will be voted on October 13 2008 at the General Assembly meeting of the International Golf Federation (IGF) by the delegates of all the participating countries.

IGF organizes this prestigious championship once in every two years and in each time will take place in a different continent. Every country participates with their strongest team men and lady and each team composes of three players.

During the Turkish Amateur Open Championship prize giving ceremony, when they asked the Turkish Golf Federation President Ahmet Ağaoğlu, how 2012 World Amateur Team Championship preparations were coming along? He briefly commented on followings: We are really working very hard to get this championship to Belek - Antalya, because of various magnificent golf courses spread around the area which is selected by the International Association Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) as the best golf destination of Europe. Our wide range of organizing international golf tournaments experience, nearly guaranteed good weather and also well maintained signature courses are more than enough for us to run any international golf tournaments successfully.

The most important tournament of the Turkish Golf Federation for the year 2008 has been held between September 04 – 07 at the Nick Foldo designed Cornelia Golf Club, Belek - Antalya.

Needless to say that 7th Turkish Amateur Open, with the first time participation of ladies category, became more colorful and interesting. 135 golfers, men and ladies from 25 countries, including South Africa, Bangladesh and various parts of Europe, have had a fiercely competition at the well prepared challenging course.

17 years old young Jose Maria Joia from Portugal became champion, secured winning position with 287 strokes, defeating Richard Heath from Switzerland, who scored 288 strokes and became runner up. Niccolo Ravano obtained 3rd position with a score of 292 strokes.

For the ladies category, Ashleigh Holmes from South Africa became champion with 307 strokes, defeating, Charlene Reid from Ireland who scored 308 strokes and became runner up. Elçin Ulu from Turkey whom were the leader of the third day did not perform well on the last day and secured 3rd position with 308 strokes.

During the prize giving ceremony which was held at Cornelia Golf Club, Turkish Golf Federation President Ahmet Ağaoğlu commented and summarized that, the 7. Turkish Amateur Open Championship has been a great success with record number of golfers participation from 25 various countries. Organization have been excellent, performance of players also were high quality. He continued to his speech thanking to all nations for their participation, Cornelia Golf Resort for their hospitality and excellent services to all of the green keeping staff for their super work preparing the golf courses in a very good playing condition. Mr. Ağaoğlu finalized his speech saying, you all know that Turkey is one of the nominee to organize World Amateur Team Championship for the year 2012. If we shall be selected to organize to make this tournament in Turkey, of course Cornelia Golf Club will be again the host club for this prestigious amateur tournament.