Julio Zapata
Encyclopedia
Julio Cesar Zapata is an Argentine
professional golfer
.
Zapata was born in Rafaela
, Santa Fe Province
, and turned professional in 1997.
In 2005, Zapata was second in the Argentina Tour rankings, winning the Norpatagonico Open
and finishing second in five other tournaments, including the Argentine Masters
and the Coast Open
. The following year, he won the Players Championship on the Tour de las Americas
, and was third on that tour's Order of Merit. In 2008 he won the South Open
, the last tournament of the 2008 TPG Tour
.
Following a successful season on the Challenge Tour
in 2007 with eight top ten finishes, highlighted by a second place finish in Challenge of Ireland
, he graduated to the European Tour
in 2008. He finished 138th on the Order of Merit, with a best result of 11th in the Omega European Masters
, and as a result failed to maintain his playing privileges and dropped back down to the Challenge Tour for 2009, where he did enough to regain his European Tour card for 2011 by ending the season in 11th place on the rankings.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
.
Zapata was born in Rafaela
Rafaela
Rafaela is a city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, about 96 km from the provincial capital. It is the head town of the Castellanos Department. It has a population of 99,150 per the ....
, Santa Fe Province
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
, and turned professional in 1997.
In 2005, Zapata was second in the Argentina Tour rankings, winning the Norpatagonico Open
Norpatagonico Open
The Norpatagonico Open, or Abierto Norpatagónico, is one of the major professional golf tournaments in Argentina. Founded in 1969, it has always been held at the Palihue Golf Club in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, although it was not played between 1974 and 1986.The tournament currently...
and finishing second in five other tournaments, including the Argentine Masters
Argentine Masters
The Argentine Masters or Torneo de Maestros is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in Argentina, despite not having been played continuously since the inaugural event in 1961. It has always been held at the Olivos Golf Club near Buenos Aires....
and the Coast Open
Coast Open
The Coast Open, or Abierto del Litoral, is a golf tournament played in Argentina. Founded in 1932 as the Torneo de Profesionales , a name only used for the first two editions, it has always been played at the Rosario Golf Club in Rosario, Santa Fe.The tournament has been an annual stop on the Tour...
. The following year, he won the Players Championship on the Tour de las Americas
Tour de las Americas
The Tour de las Américas is the men's professional golf tour for Latin America.Top level tournament golf in Latin America has had an unstable history. Some of the national open championships in the region are long established, but they did not traditionally form a coherent tour...
, and was third on that tour's Order of Merit. In 2008 he won the South Open
South Open
The South Open, or Abierto del Sur, is one of the major regional open golf tournaments in Argentina, and is also one of the oldest, having been inaugurated 1918. It has always been held at the Mar del Plata Golf Club in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province...
, the last tournament of the 2008 TPG Tour
2008 TPG Tour
The 2008 TPG Tour was a season of golf tournaments on the TPG Tour, the official professional golf tour of Argentina. The season ran from February to December and consisted of sixteen tournaments, fifteen in Argentina and one, the Carlos Franco Invitational, held in Paraguay.Seven events were also...
.
Following a successful season on the Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
in 2007 with eight top ten finishes, highlighted by a second place finish in Challenge of Ireland
Challenge of Ireland
The Challenge of Ireland was a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour, held in the Republic of Ireland. It was played from 2005 to 2009.Robert Coles won the 2009 event in a playoff over Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.-Winners:PO – won following playoff...
, he graduated to the European Tour
PGA European Tour
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
in 2008. He finished 138th on the Order of Merit, with a best result of 11th in the Omega European Masters
Omega European Masters
The Omega European Masters is the Swiss stop on professional men's golf's European Tour, and in 2009 will become the first event in Europe to be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour....
, and as a result failed to maintain his playing privileges and dropped back down to the Challenge Tour for 2009, where he did enough to regain his European Tour card for 2011 by ending the season in 11th place on the rankings.
Argentine wins (9)
- 2000 Parana OpenParana OpenThe Parana Open, or the Mesopotamia Open, is a golf tournament on the TPG Tour, the official professional golf tour in Argentina. First held in 1986, it has always been held at the Estudiantes de Paraná Golf Club in Paraná, Entre Ríos Province...
- 2002 La Cumbre Grand Prix
- 2003 Villa Mercedes OpenSan Luis OpenThe San Luis Open, or the Abierto de San Luis, is a golf tournament on the TPG Tour, the official professional golf tour in Argentina. First held in 2002, it has always been held at the Villa Mercedes Golf Club, in Villa Mercedes, San Luis Province...
- 2004 San Nicolas Grand Prix
- 2005 Norpatagonico OpenNorpatagonico OpenThe Norpatagonico Open, or Abierto Norpatagónico, is one of the major professional golf tournaments in Argentina. Founded in 1969, it has always been held at the Palihue Golf Club in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, although it was not played between 1974 and 1986.The tournament currently...
- 2006 Tandil OpenTandil OpenThe Tandil Open, currently the Golf Play Classic for sponsorship reasons, is a golf tournament on the TPG Tour, the official professional golf tour in Argentina. First held in 2006, it has always been held at the Valle de Tandil Golf Club, in Tandil, Buenos Aires Province.-Winners:PO – won...
- 2007 Parana OpenParana OpenThe Parana Open, or the Mesopotamia Open, is a golf tournament on the TPG Tour, the official professional golf tour in Argentina. First held in 1986, it has always been held at the Estudiantes de Paraná Golf Club in Paraná, Entre Ríos Province...
- 2008 Salta OpenSalta OpenThe Salta Open, or the Abierto de Salta, is a golf tournament on the TPG Tour, the official professional golf tour in Argentina. First held in 2004, it has always been held at the Salta Golf & Polo Club, in Salta, Salta Province.-Winners:...
, South OpenSouth OpenThe South Open, or Abierto del Sur, is one of the major regional open golf tournaments in Argentina, and is also one of the oldest, having been inaugurated 1918. It has always been held at the Mar del Plata Golf Club in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province...