La Cala greenkeeper pipped to the post by Sevilla man as Spain’s best greenkeeper

LAWN mowers at the ready and sprinklers on hand, because Spain’s best greenkeeper has been crowned.

The prestigious competition judged La Zaudin greenkeeper in Sevilla, Guillermo de Prado, top of the pile.

The coveted prize was just out of reach for other Spanish greenkeeper Rafael Linares, who has managed the grounds of the luxury complex La Cala Resort for two years.

The Cordoban, who manages a team of 30, made it to the final five, nominated by his colleagues for having ‘considerably improved standards for clients and players alike’.

“It’s a shame not to win but it was an honour to be nominated and I think it helped that I’m an avid golfer as I can see the grounds from a player’s’ perspective,” Linares, 42, told the Olive Press.

“Spending all day out in nature doing a structured, planned job is why I love it,” he continued.

Other contestants to lose out included Madrid’s La Herreria’s Rostyslav Rudenko and Alicante’s Levante golf course’s Alejandro Reyes.