Young players shine at IIG Bank Championship
The three-day IIG Bank Championship, held recently at the Royal Malta Golf Club, was undoubtedly the most thrilling and closely contested for many years. Andrew Borg has dominated this championship in the past. When it was said to him that his enforced...
The three-day IIG Bank Championship, held recently at the Royal Malta Golf Club, was undoubtedly the most thrilling and closely contested for many years.
Andrew Borg has dominated this championship in the past. When it was said to him that his enforced absence was no bad thing, he endorsed that as a compliment to encourage the new cadre.
And so it happened. After Day One, Danny Holland was in the lead having carded a 69 (one over Standard Scratch, SSC), followed by Chris Bergedahl, the 2011 runner-up. He was six over SSC despite sticking three balls out of bounds on three holes.
On Day Two, Holland lost his way and it became difficult for him to remain in contention.
However, there remained Ruud Critien (the Day Two leader), Nicky Beck, Bernhard Abele, Quint Van Beek, John Micallef Stafrace, Bergedahl and J.J. Micallef – the oldest of these young men being 22.
At that point, there were five shots between them all.
Meanwhile, a past winner of this championship in 2005, Peter Satariano, an older golfer, uniquely competed with the young and remained throughout with the leaders.
Early in Day Three, it became increasingly clear that the winner was likely to be Critien or Micallef.
On the 13th green they were equal, at that stage both being six over par for the three days.
However, Micallef birdied the 14th and again the par 5, 15th. He pared the next two holes and birdied the 18th to win the title by four shots over Critien with Bergedahl third.
The winner’s score over the three days was 207, that being 72, 68 and 67 on a course with a SSC of 68... a commendable average of one shot per day over scratch.
Nigel Stibbs, the CEO at IIG Bank, presented the prizes and spoke highly of the young potential.
It’s good to point out that David Debono has, over eight years, been the guiding influence of all these young golfers plus so many more yet to emerge.
He is about to be the future Captain of the Royal Malta Golf Club and will serve this coming year during the 125 Anniversary Celebrations.