YOUNG QUINT VAN BEEK WINS THE 5TH MGA SHIELD

15/11/2011

For the second year running, the Malta Golf Association Shield was won by a junior golfer. With net scores of 62 and 69, Quint van Beek, who will turn fifteen in a few days time, won the two-day aggregate (handicapped) medal tournament with a clear three shots over second placed Paul Gray.

Thirty ladies and one hundred men (including three juniors) signed up for the competition which was hosted at the Royal Malta Golf Club in Marsa. The ladies played their first day on Thursday 10th November whilst the men played theirs on Saturday 11th November. The players with the best 80 scores then played the final second day round on Sunday 13th November. Good scoring prevailed throughout the tournament as the players were blessed with pleasant weather conditions at most times and the golf course well primed for the occasion.

The ladies’ first day proved to be of a totally different experience for the best two ladies in the field. Whilst Maureen Borg playing off a handicap of 9 played to a gross 76 (net 67) to give her a one shot lead at the end of regulation play, Laine Tutane – the overall best lady in last year’s tournament – saw herself disqualified due to an unsigned card. Janice Blackburn placed second with a net 68 followed by Jenny Scicluna with a net 71. Four other ladies tied fourth with a net 73.

A good seventeen men returned scores in the sixties on Saturday. Andy Borg had the best gross of 65 but saw this increased to 67 due to his +2 handicap. Andy is still the only member at the Royal Malta Golf Club with a handicap better than scratch. His net score meant joint fourth place with Mark Magro and David Debono. Keith Woodward’s net 66 placed him third, four shots off the lead scores of 62 submitted by Ralph Asciak and Quint van Beek playing off handicaps of 20 and 8 respectively. Representing six shots better than their average normal handicap, the scores were achieved through 6 pars, 10 bogeys and 2 double bogeys by Asciak against 4 birdies, 9 pars, 4 bogeys and 1 double bogey by van Beek. For the young golfer his gross score actually represented just 2 over par for the RMGC course.

On the second day of the tournament, the fearlessness of youth prevailed over the wisdom of the more mature players. Starting on the 14th hole Quint van Beek’s drive found trouble in the trees left of the fairway. His attempt to get out was not very successful leading to a triple bogey. Despite the initial set back, Quint remained totally composed and followed this with a birdie (on the par five 15th). His net 69 for the day was made up from 3 birdies, 6 pars, 7 bogeys, 1 double and 1 triple bogey which proved to be totally sufficient for him to be declared the overall winner of the tournament. The rest of the leader board was largely dominated by the male players. Whilst Ralph Asciak put in a net 74 which saw him drop to fifth place and Keith Woodward retained his third place with a net 69; Paul Gray’s 65 and Ian Restall’s 67 saw them climb up to finish respectively overall second and fourth. David Allsopp’s net 63 was the best score for the second day.

With such good scores from the men, the ladies had to battle it out between themselves on Sunday merely for their section’s prizes. Maureen Borg struggled to play to her best and with a 7 over handicap result she dropped to overall fourth with an aggregate of 142. Felicty Dix had the best score from the ladies on this second day and her net 68 moved her also to 142 – just ahead of Maureen on count back. Janice Blackburn retained her second place with a net 73 for an aggregate of 141. The same aggregate score belonged also to Jenny Scicluna whose net 70 was enough to take the overall best lady from Janice again on count back consideration.

At the end of the tournament, William Beck (MGA President) together with Ian Restall (MGA Secretary), Ray Mountford and Maureen Borg (both MGA Executive Council Members), Beverly Hall (Lady Captain) and David Debono (RMGC Vice-Captain) presented the winners with their prizes.

The full list of prize winners is outlined below (after count back; limit of one prize per player considerations and presentation attendance condition - where applicable).

Overall Winner: Quint van Beek (62+69)
Overall Best lady player: Jenny Scicluna (71+70)
2nd Best net aggregate score from a lady player: Janice Blackburn (68+73)
3rd Best net aggregate score from a lady player: Maureen Borg (67+75)
4th Best net aggregate score from a lady player: Valerie Simpson (74+70)
Overall Best gentleman player: Paul Gray (69+65)
2nd Best net aggregate score from a gentleman player: Keith Woodward (66+69)
3rd Best net aggregate score from a gentleman player: Ian Restall (69+67)
4th Best net aggregate score from a gentleman player: Ralph Asciak (62+74)
Best net aggregate score from a youth golfer (21 years and under): not awarded
Best net aggregate score from a senior player (65 years and over): Roger Dyckhoff (75+66)
Best net score on Day 1 from a lady player: Maureen Borg (67)
Best net score on Day 2 from a lady player: Anne MacDonald (70)
Best net score on Day 1 from a gentleman player: Ralph Asciak (62)
Best net score on Day 2 from a gentleman player: David Allsopp (63)