HSBC Scratch Challenge winner Danny Holland holding the trophy next to Royal Malta Golf Club Captain John Fletcher.

Danny Holland won the HSBC Scratch Challenge Cup held recently at the Royal Malta Golf Club.

The Scratch Trophy, sponsored by HSBC for the last four years, is a two-day competition played without handicap among the best golfers at the club. Founded in 1891, the Scratch Challenge is a prestigious competition based on an individual aggregate 36-hole medal played off scratch.

“Over the last years, the overall standard at RMGC has risen dramatically as new, young golfers take their positions,” said club Captain John Fletcher.

“This year had the most enthralling finish of any Scratch competition in recent memory, ending with possibly one of the most dramatic play-offs this golf club has ever seen.”

Day One finished with Holland and J.J. Micallef on 70, followed by Andy Borg, Quint Van Beek and Ruud Critien on 71.

Day Two brought some exceptional play, notably a birdie on the 3rd, the most difficult par-four by Holland, and yet another birdie by Borg on the equally difficult 10th, also a par-four.

On the final 18th, Holland teed off with two shots in hand over Micallef. However, the latter went down in three and Holland in five, with three putted. Thus, both golfers had achieved equal scores on the first (70) and second days (68).

The competition had to be settled in a shoot-off over three further holes.

The 1st was birdied by Holland (three shots) and bogeyed by Micallef (five shots). The 17th was a par-three and both contestants went down for four.

Holland was two shots ahead standing at the 18th hole.

He teed off as a sure winner but went out of bounds. Micallef had a clean shot towards the green as Holland had to tee off again and holed the putt for a five. Micallef chipped onto the green and holed out for four, leaving Holland the winner by the smallest of margins.

Apart from the trophy, Holland was awarded two VIP tickets for the Open Championships in Hoylake, Liverpool, to be played in July.

Meanwhile, the HSBC Kinnard Centenary competition, played over the same weekend, was won by Hans Klotz with Jean Pierre Awad the runner-up.