The Phoenicia Scratch Challenge Cup, along with the Championship, are the two most prestigious tournaments of the year at the Royal Malta Golf Club.

The Challenge has been played since 1891 and is the oldest of all the competitions at Marsa.

The format is individual aggregate 36-hole medal, off scratch and played over two consecutive days. This year's Challenge was played last weekend.

Notable past winners are Alfred Zammit, who has won on seven occasions since 1988, and Andrew Borg who has won it six times since 1995.

This year, the competition was truly exciting. After Day 1, Danny Holland was in the lead with a gross score of 69 followed closely by Chris Bergedahl on 70 and Andy Borg with 75.

It should be noted that Holland is a junior academy player. Bergedahl has just turned 18 and only graduated from the academy this year.

Despite being in a commanding position overnight, inexperience can take its toll. However, that was not to be on this occasion as Holland held on to his lead with 75 strokes on Day Two.

It was very close though as Bergedahl was playing exceptionally well but, unfortunately for him, he hit a couple of balls out of bounds and lost five shots on four holes towards the end.

Thus the positions remained unaltered and for the first time ever the Challenge was won by a 15-year-old. The final scores were Holland 144, Bergedahl 147 and Borg 148.

Running concurrently with the Challenge was the Hackers Trophy, open for those players with higher handicaps above 18.

Once again a junior, Quint Van Beek, won this competition with a creditable net score of 63.