It has been a special two weeks for Royal Malta Golf Club members William Beck and his son Nicholas as they respectively won the John Delia (Wedgwood) Trophy and the Creasy Cup.
The John Delia Trophy was played over two consecutive Saturdays with round one in a Stableford format and round two in a medal stroke play, off full handicap.
Only eight players out of the 80 participants managed to play to their handicap or better in the Stableford competition.
Richard Crossley led with 40 points followed by Michael Balzan with 39 as William Beck and Andy Borg were trailing with 37 and 36 points respectively.
In the second round, Crossley just could not repeat his previous scoring and by the 14th hole had registered a no return to the competition.
Borg, on the other hand, played a gross 62 to equal the amateur course record established in 2007.
Due to his +2 handicap this related to a net 64 and an aggregate of 28 and third place for the competition despite the best overall gross score for the two days.
From the other golfers, Balzan was the first to produce a good score and with a net 66 and an aggregate of 27, was the leader for some time.
But there was still one contender left playing.
Indeed, William Beck was having the best round of his life. Having played the first eight holes one over his handicap, he proceeded to play the remaining 10 holes to level par for a total net 61 and an overall 24 to win the competition by three clear shots from Balzan.
Borg was also to feature in the Creasy Cup knock-out matchplay final against Nicholas Beck.
The Creasy Cup is the only competition played over 36 holes on the same day and this year’s final had to be played in strong wind. It is played off full handicap and Borg gave Beck seven shots for each 18 holes.
Beck retained a two-hole advantage after 18 holes as the second set got underway after an hour’s rest.
It was tight all the way as Borg placed his tee shot within four feet from the pin at the 35th hole while Beck’s shot missed the green. He played his chip close and got his par. Borg’s putt for a win then just slipped by the hole and Beck was now one up with one hole to go.
With the wind at this back, Borg went on to hit a three-iron off the tee but the shot drew in a touch too many and the ball ended in the trees lining the left of the fairway.
Beck lobbed his approach shot to about four feet from the hole, sending a strong message to Borg that he needed to do something extraordinary to birdie the hole and force a play-off.
Borg’s second shot hit a branch in its path to drop down dead. His third shot had to be really good and it was. He lobbed the ball within one foot from the pin.
That left Beck with an easy two putt to win the match but this was not necessary as Borg conceded the hole.