Jan. 18, 2005 – The Madeira Island Open, which this year celebrates its 13th consecutive staging on the European Tour, is moving to a new date this spring.

The event now will be played Apr. 7-10, opposite the Masters in the United States. It had been scheduled for Mar. 17-20, but European Tour officials said it is making way to accommodate a new tournament that has yet to be finalized.

Christopher Hanell is the defending champion of the Madeira Island Open, which also boasts former European Ryder Cup players Niclas Fasth, Mark James and Jarmo Sandelin as past champions.

Source: European Tour