The Scratch Challenge, sponsored by HSBC, has been played continuously since 1891, except for the war years, and the names of every winner are recorded on the Honour Boards at the Royal Malta Golf Club.

It is one of the two main competitions of the season and it is played off scratch – no handicap.

Last Saturday was the opening day of play for the 2012 tournament and produced some memorable moments.

Nicky Beck put his drive out of bounds on the par four, second tee. However with the courage of youth he drove his next ball to the green and putted it for a par, a remarkable feat following a potential disaster.

Ruud Critien also faced a similar crisis on the first day on the par five, 15th tee, hitting his third ball over the road. Maintaining his calm after this penalty, Critien pitched the ball next to the hole on his fifth shot and went down for a six.

At the end of the first day, Critien was the leader with 67 shots followed by Andy Borg, 68, Quint Van Beek and Peter Satariano, 72, and Nicky , 73.

The following day Critien lost his way over the 18 holes and came to a sticky end on the 18th par four when he drove his ball out of bounds.

After taking a second ball off the tee, he eventually sank this for a six.

On this same hole, Borg drove the green which is all of 300 yards arriving some 15 feet from the pin. Satariano’s drive was not far behind.

Day Two finished with Borg hitting 67 shots, Critien 77 and Satariano 72.

In the final standings, Borg placed first with a net 137. Satariano was second, 144, on count back from Critien with the same score over the two days.

Chris Bond, of HSBC, who also took part in the competition, presented the trophies to the winners.