Borg wins tight duel with Proell

The Nokia Ladies' Golf Championships were played recently at the Royal Malta Golf Club.

This two-day event, played off scratch which means that the gross scores count, is open to golfers with a handicap of up to 23.

The Championships are usually played in May but the season was extended to allow the new Greens Superintendent, Roger Bott, to see through his successful work in improving the course conditions.

Many of the contenders knew they would have to play out of their socks to beat the two best lady golfers, Maureen Borg and Olga Proell, who always play reliably to their single-figure handicaps.

And, indeed, some players did have excellent individual rounds - Jenny Scicluna shot a personal best of 83 and Maike Beekman and Sue Wibrew also had rounds of 81 on the second day.

However, only one shot separated Borg and Proell at the end of the opening day (gross 78 and 79 respectively) and they each shot a front nine score of 36 on the second day. The final scores were a total of 154 (79+75) for Proell and 152 (78+74) for Borg.

It was noted by some that had these two challengers been playing in the Men's Championships they would have been leading at the end of the second day.

Some might rightly argue that the men's course is longer but for the ladies' event, the participants went from longer tees and pin positions were certainly more difficult on the second day.

A parallel competition, the Moya Hann Trophy, was played for lady golfers with handicaps between 24 and 36. The winner of the trophy was Frances Bergedahl with Eileen Borg landing the runner-up spot.

After the end of the competitions, a presentation lunch was held at the golf club during which Chris Briffa, on behalf of Nokia, the championships' sponsors, presented the winning trophy to Maureen Borg who, along with runner-up Olga Proell, received new mobile phones.