ROLLER COASTER EXPERIENCE FOR MALTA BOYS

14/07/2011

Daniel Holland and JJ Micallef are on their way home after participating in the qualifying event for the 2011 Faldo Series Grand Final that was held on the Dunes Course (6634 yards par 72) at Costa Navarino in Greece. Our players’ experience in this two-day tournament can be described as an emotional roller coaster.

After a confident practice round of 2 over par for the course, Danny, playing in the under-18 group, started with four pars on his first nine holes interlaced with three bogeys and two double bogeys. His back nine had a similar result with yet another four pars, four bogeys and a double bogey for a 13-over par and, perhaps more importantly, in second place albeit 8 shots behind Rokadadis from Greece.

Needless to say, Danny was despondent after his first 18 holes and his 3-over par on the first hole of the second day of the tournament should not have helped to calm his young nerves. But golf, being a game of opposites, works in a funny way sometimes and Danny eliminated multiple bogeys from the rest of his round and replaced these with four birdies. Seven pars and six bogeys on the other holes turned his card to a gross 77. This equalled Rokadadis score from Day 1. In yet another twist of fate, the Greek boy shot an 84 on his second day thus denying Danny a first place by one solitary shot.

JJ, playing in the under-21 group, started with a demoralizing 2-over par on the first par 4 but somehow he managed to recover and before he reached the 11th he managed to cling on to one bogey, one birdie and 7 pars six of which came in back to back starting from the 5th. The 11th – another par 4 – proved to be another dip for JJ and resulted in triple bogey. This was then followed by three pars, three bogeys and a birdie on the last hole for a gross 79. Despite everything JJ led his group after the first day by one shot.

The Dunes first hole showed its mettle to JJ yet again on the second day – a triple bogey – to immediately wipe off JJ’s slight advantage. JJ’s hopes were further crushed when this was accompanied by two double bogeys, two bogeys and four pars on the front nine. Although the back nine were somehow easier (seven pars, a bogey and a triple bogey), the end score of 85 contributed to a third place for JJ – eight shots behind Lolas of Greece.

In the overall full list result Danny placed tied 8th with a gross 162 (+18) and JJ placed 10th with a gross 164 (+20). The overall tournament was won by Vasili Kartos who not yet 16 years played a gross 152 (8 over par for the course).

The participation of Daniel and JJ (both members of the Royal Malta Golf Club) was made possible through the kind sponsorship of M Demajo (Wines & Spirits) agents of Veuve Clicquot under the auspices of the Malta Golf Association.