Benchmark International

Benchmark International hosted a string of US clients, retained buyers, former clients, and professional advisers at this year’s PGA Valspar Championship. The Valspar Championship has quickly risen to be a premier PGA tour stop since its inception in 2000 and is set just down the road from Benchmark International’s US headquarters in Tampa, Florida. The firm’s guests enjoyed air conditioned views of the 17^th and 18^th holes, commonly known as “the Snakepit” and regarded as the last two legs of the “three hardest holes on the PGA Tour.” This included an extremely challenging pin placement for the 17^th on Saturday, a mere eight feet away from Benchmark International’s closest seats.

While last year’s winner and current number 1 golfer in the world, Jordan Spieth was a bit of a disappointment this time around, Charl Schwartzel pulled off an exciting come-from-behind extra-holes playoff win that unfolded right in front of the Benchmark International crowd on Sunday, including a 25-foot must-hit birdie putt, once again on the 17^th.

The local Benchmark International team were rooting for the 22-year old home town hero Lee McCoy, his fourth place finish was the best finish by an amateur in a PGA Tour event of top players since 17-year-old Justin Rose tied for fourth at the British Open in 1998 a therefore a reason for celebration among the team. However, because McCoy is a college athlete and thus must maintain his amateur status, he was required to forgo the $292,000 purse. This was perhaps the worst of all news for Benchmark International . “If there is one thing we hate seeing, it’s money left on the table” said avid golfer and Benchmark International Transaction Director Dara Shareef.