From February 27 to March 1, the Isla Canela Old Course hosted the fourth event of the UGP Tour WAGR 2025-26, a three-day tournament that combined strong performances, excitement, and challenging wind conditions that ultimately made the difference.
First round: tied at the top
February 27 began with mild temperatures and very little breeze, providing ideal conditions for attacking the pins. From the start, the level of competition was high, and two players quickly stood out: Málaga native Eladio Pérez and Raúl Aliaga, a UGPM player, who both signed cards of 71 to share the lead after the opening round.
Close behind was Óscar Murphy with a round of 72, showing consistency in every aspect of his game. The tight leaderboard suggested an exciting battle for the following rounds.
Second round: the wind toughens the course
On February 28, the script changed completely. Strong winds blew for much of the day, particularly affecting the most exposed holes of the Huelva course. The narrow fairways and well-protected greens of the Old Course demanded precision and patience.
In those challenging conditions, Eladio Pérez emerged with authority. The Málaga player delivered an outstanding round of 68, the best score of the tournament at that point, allowing him to open a gap at the top of the leaderboard. His control of ball flight in the wind —keeping the ball low and showing excellent iron control— proved decisive.
Alex Emms also stood out, returning a solid round of 71, particularly impressive given the difficult weather conditions. However, Pérez’s inspired play meant that by the end of the second round he led the tournament by four strokes over Emms, establishing himself as the clear favorite for the title.
Final round: a calm finish
On March 1, good weather conditions returned. With less wind and a more pleasant atmosphere, the course once again offered scoring opportunities, though it still required composure under the pressure of the final round.
The tournament concluded as a memorable event defined by the consistency of the opening round, the epic battle against the wind on the second day, and the competitive tension of the final round, with Eladio Pérez emerging as the standout player thanks to the key round that ultimately tilted the balance in his favor on the demanding Isla Canela layout.
With the advantage built the previous day, Eladio Pérez approached the decisive round with confidence. The excitement lasted until the closing holes, with his closest challengers trying to reduce the gap, but the solid lead he built during the second round ultimately proved decisive in determining the outcome of the championship.
The fifth event of the UGPM WAGR Tour will take place at Añoreta Golf & Resort in Málaga from April 10 to 12. We look forward to seeing you there!
Below you will find photos from the last day.
Note: The photos are for personal use only. If you post them, please tag @universitygolfspain and @michelmartinpictures.
Thank you!
Photos by Michel Martin Pics.
