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The 91st Open of the Center began this Wednesday in Villa Allende, on a day as unusual for the start of a golf tournament as it is to see women officiating as caddies in the traditional championship.
But Marina was happily pampered by her boyfriend Julián Etulain at the end of the first round on hole 9 with 68 strokes (-3), which allowed the golfer from Buenos Aires to place in the third place. And Luna enjoyed a peaceful lunch with her love Marcos Montenegro and other players after concluding in par (71) the first day of action at the Córdoba Golf Club in Villa Allende.
Marina and Luna, in the center of the scene with their partners, distinguish themselves in an outstanding tournament, in which young and old; experienced and novices; Professionals and amateurs enjoy one of the most iconic Argentine golf courses to give life to a new edition of a historic tournament.
Matías Simaski from Córdoba, Emilio Domínguez from San Luis and Leonardo Ledesma from Tucumán finished as leaders after the first round of the Open, with individual cards of 66 shots that left them at -5. Eduardo Calsina, with 71 (par) appears as the best amateur in the positions.
an even round
Marcos Montenegro is 25 years old and has one of his most beautiful memories linked to golf at the Abierto del Centro: in 2018 he became champion among fans.
“It is a court that I like. I like Córdoba and I chose it to keep up with the rhythm. It is a very competitive field, ”describes the man from Buenos Aires, who finished in par on the field and shares a new experience in the company of his girlfriend Luna.
They have been together for 5 years and Luna took the opportunity to bring him the clubs, as she did with a friend when they met Marcos at a golf tournament. “We take it very normal. We are very used to it”, assures the law student that she “knew very little about golf” but thanks to the fact that she accompanies her boyfriend “a lot” she was “learning over time”.
“He already knows how to move on the court,” says Marcos. “I pass him the sticks that he tells me. But I don’t get involved”, clarifies Luna.
“I have a caddy who is helping me and he couldn’t come now. With my caddy out there we debate which club to hit, but now it’s up to me to decide”, says the golfer and assesses Luna’s role: “She helps me more from the psychological side. This sport is very mental and she helps me more from that side, ”he remarks.
“I realize if he is doing well or not, I know him and I accompany him a lot,” she adds.
Etulain’s proposal
Marina and Julián have known each other for years, when they were “the athletic boys of the town” in their native Coronel Suárez. She skated and he golfed forging separate careers but they met again.
They have been dating for a year and a half and Julián proposed that this year she quit her job as a skate teacher and accompany him on trips. “The first few tournaments I did well, so now I’m stuck”, says Etulain’s official caddy with a smile.
“She left her job and we traveled around the United States since January, through different countries in South America, and now we came to play here. It’s much more fun”, says the golfer.
Etulain is one of the outstanding professionals that the 91st edition of the Abierto del Centro has, and from his experience he reflects: “One gets older and tries more to enjoy every moment. When he is younger he tries to do this in a more ‘professional’ way and tries to have a caddy, but as time goes by he realizes that the one who hits the ball is one of them, and that is if you have someone you get along with well and you can share not only golf but other things, it’s better. It’s going well for you, it’s going badly for you, and it’s good to have someone to share it with.”
Marina admits that she doesn’t understand “much about golf”. “At times it is difficult. Everyone has something special to play this, but we’re doing well. I bring him the sticks and nothing else. I’m like a mule”, she jokes and acknowledges her progress: “The first tournaments we couldn’t talk about anything because I didn’t understand anything. Now we talk more and more. I like it”.
