Malta clinch challenge

Every year at the start of the golf season, Malta challenge The Rest to a three-day competition sponsored by BOV and run along the lines of the biennial Ryder Cup.

There are 12 players in each team, the top ten from the Order of Merit and two wild cards.

After Day One the scores were all square (6-6). The highlight of the day was on the 18th hole, the Malta team consisting of Kim Borg and JJ Micallef were one up, needing only a half to win the match.

Borg drove off only to see his ball bouncing down the ditch towards Albert Town. Their opponents, Lewis and Woodward, naturally felt confident of winning this hole and halving the match, however Mical-lef teed off for three shots and drove the ball the best part of 300 yards to the green which was duly holed out for five.

The Rest only managed a five and Malta won this match.

Day Two put Malta in the lead winning four matches, thus leaving the score at 14-10.

It was everything to play for on Day Three where 24 points were available. There were some thrilling and contentious matches where the application of the Rules of Golf came forcibly into play.

In the final analysis The Rest just won the majority of the single matches but not by a sufficient margin.

Again for the 10th time in succession, Malta won the challenge, the score being 25-23.

This was the closest encounter for many years.

The two teams were captained by Ian Macpherson, the Captain of the RMGC, and David Debono, the Vice-Captain.

Both gave enlightening speeches at the end-of-competition lunch, during which the prestigious Wilkinson Sword was presented to the winning captain.

Dougherty visit

Professional British golfer Nick Dougherty visited the club last week and played a number of holes with the winners of the Tommy Hilfiger Tournament held in June.

Besides playing with the local winners, Dougherty, sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger, also allocated an hour for a group coaching clinic.