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IIG Bank Club Championship - Holland ends season on a high

Malta, June 2014: The IIG Bank Club Championship, inaugurated in 1963, is the premier eventof the season, closing the official calendar of the Royal Malta Golf Club. The trophy was presented to the club by Rear Admiral David William Maurice Boyle who was Flag Officer Malta between 1961 and 1963.

The last few years have seen a marked improvement in the standard of play in this and other competitions at Marsamainly due to the increased number of juniors who have matured into able golfers. This is also thanks to those members who have dedicated much time and effort in planning a golf programme for the newcomers and also to the guidance of coach Henning Schultze-Doering.

Day One saw Danny Holland in the lead with 68 followed by Andy Borg and J. J. Micallef both 70. Lying close behind was Nicholas Beck (73), John Micallef Stafrace (74) and Quint Van Beek (75).

There were very few changes on Day Two as Holland stayed top of the leaderboard with 134 and Borg trailing on 139 with Micallef third on 140.

Day Three was clearly the most exciting of the competition and one remarkable episode showed some extraordinary skill. Borg teed off on the difficult 10th hole. Unfortunately for him, the shot landed in the ditch and rolled onto the concrete base, almost under the stone bridge. Undoubtedly, Borg was perturbed but he found a one-foot gap between the tree in front and the arches of the bridge... his extraordinary shot reaching the green 150 yards away. He managed to par the hole.

Holland was consistent throughout Day Three as he pared 17 holes and birdied one. He was the championship winner with a gross 201.

Borg had to settle for second with 207 and Micallef third with 211.

Running concurrently with the championship was the Centenary Plate. This competition was open for those players with a high handicap and who did not make the cut of the best 20 for the final day of the Club Championship. Herbert Froehlich was the winner ahead of John Hopper. The oldest regular player at the club, Tom Davies,was third and he received a special prize for his achievement.

IIG Bank chief executive Nigel Stibbs, who played in all three days of the competition, presented the prizes to the winners.