The IIG Bank Championship was inaugurated way back in 1963 and is the premier competition of the season at the Royal Malta Golf Club, closing the official 2015 calendar.

The trophy was presented to the club by David William Maurice Boyle, Viscount of Kelburn. He was Flag Officer Malta between 1961 and 1963.

Three top players at Marsa, Andy Borg, Danny Holland and John Junior ver Elst Micallef, did not play in the championship as currently they are representing Malta at the Iceland GSSE.

Their absence left the competition wide open.

After Day One, Richard Gray, a new member, was leading with 67 shots. Quint van Beek, who hasn’t played much this year on account of his studies, was three shots behind with the returning Peter Satariano on 71.

Day Two saw a substantial turn around. Van Beek’s debit of three shots was cancelled in four holes as he went on to win the accumulation of the two days by five shots. He was on 141, ahead of Ruud Critien, Satariano and Gray who all totalled 146.

Van Beek’s comfortable lead came despite him going out of bounds on the 18th hole and finally going down that hole with a six.

Day Three, however, saw Critien cancel his deficiency of five shots against Van Beek within the first nine holes, completed in an amazing 30 shots.

The tie remained until the 17th hole when Van Beek pulled one ahead, this only to be cancelled by Critien on the 18th.

The rules of the sport require a winner and this is played over three holes in a play-off.

Critien parred them all to emerge winner of the IIG Bank Championship.

Running concurrently was the Centenary Plate, open for those players with a high handicap.

Paul Gray was the winner in this category.

Nigel Stibbs, IIG Bank chief executive, played in all three days of the competition. He presented prizes to the winners.