Branden Grace with the South African Open trophy after his stunning 62 – matching the lowest-ever round in Major Championship he produed at Royal Birkdale three years ago. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BRANDEN Grace produced a masterful putting display in a closing 62 in his national open to complete the South African Slam at Randpark Golf Club.

Grace’s ninth European Tour victory in the South African Open was his first since his Rolex Series triumph at the 2017 Nedbank Golf.

The win sees him complete the “South African Slam” after winning the Joburg Open, Alfred Dunhill Championship and Dimension Data Pro-Am.

The home duo could not be separated at the turn as they put on a stunning show, with Oosthuizen sending the huge crowds at Johannesburg’s Randpark into raptures with a hole-in-one at the eighth.

But Grace put his foot down on the way home, taking his tally of putts to just 22 as he finished at 21-under, three shots clear of Oosthuizen.

The victory secured Grace a place at this summer’s Open Championship, where he will be joined by fellow qualifiers Marcus Armitage and Jaco Ahlers.

Yorkshire-based pro Armitage birdied the last to finish at 16-under and secure his spot at Royal St George’s Golf Club, with home favourite Ahlers a shot behind alongside Jack Senior, who was edged out for The Open spot by virtue of being eight places lower than Ahlers on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Grace finished 113th on last season’s Race to Dubai after being in the top 10 for four of the previous seven seasons.

But he showed a return to form at last month’s Alfred Dunhill Championship with a tie for third.

“That was remarkable,” said Grace. “I played flawless golf and I can’t remember the last time the putter was that hot.

“This is the one I really wanted. This means so much to any South African, winning on home soil, the guys get so behind you and it’s such an emotional feeling.

“It’s the first win with the little one here so he’s going to have a photo with the trophy and then it’s a good birthday wish to my Mrs today, she’s a birthday girl today so it’s a good birthday present.”

Grace bogeyed the second but hit back brilliantly, making a gain on the third, before eagling the fourth from 25 feet.

The first player to shoot 62 in a Major at Royal Birkdale in the The 2017 Open, made another birdie on the fifth.

The 31-year-old was in a tie for the lead when Armitage three-putted the sixth.

And Grace hit the front with a 15-foot right-to-left putt on the seventh.

An excellent up-and-down at the eighth kept him in front, but Branden was soon leapfrogged by Oosthuizen as the 2010 Open Champion produced the shot of the week.

After seven straight pars, his tee shot looked to be heading right and towards the water.

But it took a big hop left off the fringe and rolled into the cup for an ace.

Grace responded with a 25-foot birdie on the ninth and he edged back in front on his own after a stunning recovery from the rough on the 11th.

Armitage just loves Randpark – here’s why

A wonderful approach brought Oosthuizen level on the same hole but Grace found another gear.

He sandwiched a birdie from 12 feet on the 13th with a birdie four at the 12th and a three at the 14th to open up a three-shot lead to complete his South African Slam.

Armitage’s birdie on the last for a 69, then saw his 11-under total matched by Ahlers, while Senior went two better.

But the Fleetwood GC member missed out on a spot at The 148^th Open by virtue of being spots lower on the Official World Golf Rankings.

•To see the final scores at the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg click here.

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Marcus Armitage gets his pin flag and bag tag from deputy chairman of The R&A Open Championships committee Anne O’Sullivan. Picture by The R&A

MARCUS Armitage thanked his partner Lucy after sealing his place at this summer’s 148th Open Championship Royal St George’s Golf Club.

The Yorkshire pro birdied the last at the South African Open to seal solo third at Randpark Golf Club – and punch his ticket for the oldest Major Championship after walking off the green with his head held high.

Armitage will be joined at Sandwich by tournament winner Branden Grace and South African Jaco Ahlers – who finished a shot behind Armitage.

The 32-year-old from Huddersfield revealed in the European Tour’s latest Player Blog how 2019 had been a tough year for him and Lucy.

He relied on credit cards while earning less than 15,000 euros in European Challenge Tour prize money after buying a house.

That third place finish not only secured him a place at The Open – but also pocketed him more time five times last season’s winnings.

A clearly emotional Armitage – who played his way on to the European Challenge Tour with three wins on the PGA Europro Tour between 2013 and 2015 – was quick to pay tribute to the love of his life.

“It’s hard for her,” said Armitage, who only finished 89th on the Road to Mallorca in 2019.

“She’s working – we’ve got a house and we just don’t get the quality time. This one’s for Lucy.

“I can tell Lucy that she doesn’t have to do any nails that week. she can book it off and we can go and enjoy The Open.

And even though he has just one Challenge Tour victory to his name – after his win in the 2016 Foshan Open – Armitage is not intending to make up the numbers on the Kent coast.

“I’m looking to win it,” said the Salford-born pro whose win in China earned him his rookie season on the 2018 European Tour.

“It’s the best championship on the planet for me, it’s everything.

Marcus Armitage made a birdie three at the last at Randpark to qualify for the 2020 Open Championship at Royal St George’s. Picture by GETTY IMAGES00

“That is the dream. People say to you, ‘you’re on the European Tour, you’re living the dream’. No – the dream is when I’ve got a Claret Jug in my pocket and I’m off to find the other three.”

Armitage probably wishes he could play Randpark every week.

The Howley Hall member finished fifth – his best European Tour finish of his career before Sunday – in the 2018 Joburg Open, which was played in December 2017.

And after making his way through the European Tour Qualifying School (ETQS) at Lumine, in Spain, in November, the 2016 Foshan Open winner could not have made a better start to the season.

The prize cheque of €82,063 will ensure that when the ETQS category is reranked for the first time later in the season, he will be among the top earners – giving him a better chance of some starts in the bigger events.

Armitage was certainly a very relieved man after that three on the 18th lifted ahead of Lancastrian Jack Senior, who saw his Open dream dashed.

“Where I was a few months ago, I was off the cliff,” added Armtage. “I’ve turned it around.

“A few people have given me a few keys to change my life and that’s proof you can do it, you can do it in months.

“I’m a product of the hard work I’ve put in,” said the Lancashire lad who lost his mum Jean to cancer when he was 13 – he took up golf to cope with his grief, playing at Oldham Golf Club, before moving to Huddersfield, when he was 18.

It will be Armitage’s second time in the field for The Open after he qualified in 2018. But his chances of contending at Carnoustie were hampered by a freak injury suffered the week before he travelled to Scotland.

The Qualifying School graduate went indoor skydiving and dislocated his shoulder 10 days before he was set to hit his opening tee shot at Carnoustie on Thursday.

Despite being advised not to play, Armitage was determined to play – even though, not surprisingly, he did not make the weekend.

“It was quite pointless really because I’ve already done a tandem skydive from 12,000 feet” added Marcus, “so I don’t know why I went in a wind tunnel,” writing in his blog this week.

“I ripped my shoulder clean out of the socket and it was out for two hours.

“I went to see Poora Singh, one of the physios on the Challenge Tour, and he said, ‘you’re not playing in The Open next week’ and I responded, ‘yes I am, you watch me. I’ll go with half a swing’.

“And that’s exactly what I did. I played The Open with half a swing and missed the cut. I shot 69 on the second day with half a swing. I was gutted.”

Armitage – known as The Bullet – now has a second bite of the cherry and could not hide his delight after walking off the 18th.

“I knew if I birdied I’d be undoubtedly in next week and in The Open so it was some buzz to hole that putt,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to pegging it up against the players that I want to be pegging it up against every week and being in that environment of The Open.

“It’s just another opportunity to go in there and showcase my talents,” added Armitage.

South African Open winner Branden Grace shot the first ever 62 in the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale and his now heading to Royal St George’s after his victory at Randpark GC. Picture by THE R&A

Grace is happy to be heading to Sandwich

BRANDEN Grace will be playing in his 10th Open with a previous best finish of sixth in 2017 – when the South African made history by shooting the first 62 in a Major Championship at Royal Birkdale.

“I’ve got great memories there from the 62,” said Grace. “I was a little bit sour at the end of last year not knowing I’d secured my spot.

“But after this week, knowing I’ve done it, it’s a great highlight so far and something great to look forward to.

“It’s a dream and if you ask me which Major I think I would win, it’s probably that one. It suits me the most,” added Grace, who has a penetrating low ball flight.

“I played in my first Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s. It didn’t treat me too well, but it’s a great golf course.

“It’s a ball-striker’s golf course, you have to be on top of your game.

“Any Open you play, you have to be on top of your game but I am just stoked to go back – and what a day it has been.”

Ahlers qualified to play in his second Open, 11 years after making it through international qualifying only to miss the cut – at Turnberry, where Stewart Cink prevented Tom Watson from rewriting Open history as the oldest winner of the Claret Jug.

“I’m excited,” said Ahlers. “I haven’t done it in 11 years so I’m really looking forward to it.

“I play the Alfred Dunhill Links every year and I just really love links golf.

“What I hear from St George’s is it’s a pretty tough golf course, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

•For the final results in the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg, click here.

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Dutchman Wil Besseling is hoping for a late run at the Challenge Tour Grand Final, at Mallorca’s lub de Golf Alcanada. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

WIL Besseling goes into the Challenge Tour Grand Final with a real chance of earning a European Tour card at the end of the week.

Such an outcome would complete a drastic change in fortunes for the player ranked No. 18 on the Road to Mallorca going into the season’s climax on the Spanish island.

The Dutchman was the first man to miss out on a spot in the season-finale in 2018, finishing 46th in the rankings.

And, prior to the event, Besseling was just 359 points behind last-man-in Antoine Rozner.

However, bolstered by a tie for third place at the Hainan Open, Besseling will tee it up at Club de Golf Alcanada, Mallorca, just two places outside the all-important top 15 with success on Sunday at the forefront of his mind.

“Being here and being in the Grand Final is nice,” said Besseling. “The Challenge Tour has done a good job in finding this place and having the Grand Final here.

“I’ve been playing decent over the last two months. I feel my game has grown and mentally I’m getting stronger so hopefully I can do well this week.

“Obviously I need a good finish here to get my card, but I’m feeling confident to actually do it, so hopefully on Sunday I’ll be able to get my card,” Besseling added.

“It’s a new course for everyone so it’s hard to think about scores, so I’m not thinking about that.

“You need to do everything well to actually win this event because everyone is playing well and everyone’s got a chance to win this week.”

The 33-year-old Dutchman was in contention for his first European Challenge Tour win in 11 years in Hainan.

But after finding the water on the penultimate hole he carded a double-bogey, that forced him to settle for a share of third place.

A tied 46th place finish in the Foshan Open ended a strong two weeks for the man from The Netherlands – during which he more than halved his Road to Mallorca ranking.

Besseling said” “I was 40th going into China so missing out again did go through my mind. But I felt good going into those events.

“The last few months have been going well so I was happy to be in contention in the first week in China in Hainan.

“I actually expected a bit more in the second week. I wanted to be in a similar position to the week before – but that’s golf I guess.

“I was pretty pleased with how I played in China and it gave me a chance to get my card this week. It’s been good and hopefully I can get the job done.”

The Challenge Tour Grand Final is the 24th and final event on the Road to Mallorca, where the top 45 players compete for one of 15 European Tour cards on offer.

Such is the breakdown of prize money this week in Mallorca, any player will graduate to the European Tour with a victory – giving everyone in the field a shot at glory.

There are nine English and three Scots in the field. Gleneagles’ two-time winner Calum Hill heads the money list while Hampshire’s Richard Bland will be hoping for a repeat of his Challenge Tour Grand Final win in Bordeaux, in 2001 – still the 46-year-old’s only victory of his professional career.

Bland, who is ranked third, is one of three English players inside the top 15 before play commences.

The likes of Cheshire’s Matthew Jordan (10th), and Lancashire’s Jack Senior (7th), who have a win each on the Challenge Tour in 2019, are hoping to maintain their place in the top 15 to ensure graduation.

Meanwhile Wiltshire’s Ben Stow (17th) will be hoping to move up at least two places to gatecrash the party.

Oliver Farr (15th) and Rhys Enoch (25th) will fly the flag for Wales this week, while Cormac Sharvin is Northern Ireland’s sole representative in Mallorca, sitting pretty currently in ninth place.

Playing privileges on the top tier is not the only prize on offer this week, as the battle to be crowned Challenge Tour No. 1 reaches its conclusion.

Italy’s Francesco Laporta, who is currently second, hopes to make up the 5,277 points to overtake Hill at top – and prevent any charge from Bland, who is another 1,712 points behind.

The Challenge Tour Grand Final will begin at 7.30am GMT with France’s Ugo Coussaud, Somerset’s Laurie Canter and Spaniard Carlos Pigem playing in the first group out, with Besseling set to go off at 9.09am.

•For live scoring click here.

The post Besseling hoping to reverse 2018 and move into top 15 at final Road to Mallorca event appeared first on Golf North.

Robin Roussel aims to go one better than in the Hainan Open by winning the Foshan Open in China, in his quest to be crowned No. 1 on the European Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ROBIN Roussel is taking inspiration from last year’s champion Victor Perez as he bids to move to the top of the Road to Mallorca with a strong performance at this week’s Foshan Open.

The Frenchman is currently in second place on the Road to Mallorca rankings following a runner-up finish at the Hainan Open last week.

Roussel will now go in search of his second win of the season in the event which offers the biggest prize fund, at Foshan Golf Club, from October 24-27.

His first European Challenge Tour victory came on home soil, at the Hauts de France Pas de Calais Golf Open in June, while Perez claimed the Alfred Dunhill Links – the first rookie winner at St Andrews, last month.

And after securing his European Tour playing privileges in Hainan, Roussel now has his eye on being crowned Road to Mallorca No. 1, a posiition currently occupied by Italian Francesco Laporta, the winner in Hainan.

Rouseel knows his form from 2019 could provide a vital platform for next season.

Robin said: “We have seen Victor Perez, Robert MacIntyre, Romain Langasque and some others, like Sebastian Soderberg, play well this year.

“It brings me a lot of confidence because it shows that everybody who jumped from Challenge Tour to the European Tour can perform straightaway.

“To win the Road to Mallorca would mean a lot because it obviously means you’re the one at the top at the end of the season.

“It means that you can perform in the biggest events of the season, which means a lot because it means you can be clutch in the right moments.

“The last three events are the three biggest so if you want to finish well in the rankings then you need to finish strongly in these events.

“I have been really looking forward to these last three because if you finish in the top five on the rankings, then you have to play well in these last three events.”

A year ago in Foshan, MacIntyre and Perez both holed very long putts on the 72nd hole – MacIntyre for eagle and Perez for birdie – to reach a play-off, which the Frenchman won to move up from outside the top 15 to second on the money list.

With a cheque for $70,000 available to this week’s winner there is everything to play for those who occupy the top 15 places, which are separated by 55,000 points.

Germany’s Alex Knappe could – depending on the finishing positions of other players – move from 89th on the Road to Mallorca to the cusp of the top 15 with a win in China so there is plenty to play for in the Foshan Open.

It represents a week which could transform a whole season.

Hampshire’s Richard Bland – the oldest player inside the top 15 who will earn their full European Tour card for 2020 at 46 years old – is currently in fifth place.

The Stoneham GC member won the Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2001, his only victory in 21 years on Tour.

Bland has had three runner-up places and a third this year, his most successful in six full seasons on the Challenge Tour, and is looking to earn promotion back to the European Tour for a fourth time.

Scotland’s Calum Hill – winner of the Made in Denmark and Euram Bank Open – is in fourth, while Lancashire’s Jack Senior, who finished first in the ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland, in August, is sixth going into the Foshan Open.

All three have realistic ambitions of claiming the top spot.

That trio will be looking to close the gap on Laporta and Roussel this week, while other Home Nation players – Cormac Sharvin, from Northern Ireland, in eighth place, Royal Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan (10th), Scotland’s Conor Symes (13th), and Welshman Oliver Farr – the recent winner in Morocco – who occupies the crucial 15th spot, can all take a big step towards wrapping up their card for 2020.

Twenty-eight-year-old Roussel is experiencing the end-of-season ‘Chinese Swing’ for the first time and has been impressed thus far, particularly with the organisation of each event.

“I have enjoyed my time in China so far,” Roussel said. “Last week was amazing on Hainan Island and I just arrived here in Foshan on Monday.

“I played the course for the first time and it is a lovely course. I heard this event was so well-organised and I have witnessed it since I’ve been here. I’m enjoying it very much.”

This week offers players the final opportunity to book their place at the season-ending Challenge Tour Grand Final at Club de Golf Alcanada, Mallorca.

Only the top 45 players on the Road to Mallorca rankings at the conclusion of the Foshan Open will tee it up in the event, meaning the plethora of players currently outside that mark have it all to do this week to secure a spot in the field.

Somerset’s Laurie Canter occupies the crucial 45th place while Essex’s Todd Clements is currently ranked 46th on the Road to Mallorca.

Canadian Aaron Cockerill, who has three top 10 finishes in his last four starts, sits in 47th place.

On the bubble in the 50s are Lincolnshire’s David Coupland (53rd), former Amateur Champion Garrick Porteous (57th) Walton Heath’s David Boote (58th), and Kent’s Matt Ford (59th), who all need a good week to qualify for the season finale.

To see the current Road to Mallorca rankings click here.

The 2019 Foshan Open will begin at 6.55am local time tomorrow (Thursday), with Dutchman Wil Besseling, Simon Hawkes and Wiltshire Ben Stow getting the action under way from the 10th tee, while Roussel will begin his tournament at 7.45am from the first.

•For live scoring in Foshan click here.

The post Roussel eyes top spot on the Road to Mallorca but pack are closing at Foshan Open appeared first on Golf North.

Oliver Farr shot a superb 63 to win the Lalla Aïcha Challenge Tour at Morocco’s Royal Dar Es Salam Golf Club – the third win of his career. Picture by EUROPEAN TOUR

OLIVER Farr carded a scintillating nine-under par 63 in the final round to produce a stunning comeback and win his third European Challenge Tour title at Morocco’s Lalla Aïcha Challenge Tour.

The Welshman started the day four shots behind overnight leaders Jack Senior and Joel Sjöholm.

But Farr soon charged up the leaderboard with three consecutive birdies from the third hole, picking up two further shots on the seventh and eighth to reach the turn in just 31 strokes.

Looking to secure his first victory since the 2017 Foshan Open, the 31-year-old kept his foot firmly on the pedal, posting four further birdies over his back nine, including on the 18^th, to finish on 15 under.

That ensured he recorded a three-shot victory over Lancastrian Senior, who finished in second place at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

It was an emotional win for Farr, who has played only 11 Challenge Tour events this season after a busy and difficult year away from the course.

As well as missing events to support his wife after the birth of their second child earlier in the year, he lost his grandmother as well as suffering a death on his partner’s side of the family.

All of which forced him to miss tournaments as he fought to regain his full Euorpean Tour playing privileges after losing his card in 2018.

“It’s been a hard year for me and my family, so to get this win is extra special not just for me but for everyone back home,” said Farr.

“If I’m honest, I didn’t really think about winning when I went to bed last night, so to come back on top today was brilliant,” added Farr, who is attached to Hereford’s Burghill Valley GC.

“To shoot nine-under par on any course is amazing. I left myself in some tricky places today, but my putter felt really good and I holed a couple of really nice ones along the way as well which always helps.

“It is my third victory now on the Challenge Tour and it’s always great to win no matter where you are on the rankings.

“I’ve only got three events left now so I’ve still got to play great and hopefully I can continue this form until the end of the season.

“I always feel like I can win tournaments but as the year goes on you start to question whether you can, so to get this win just feels great,” added Farr, who first played the game as a seven-year-old at Kidderminster’s Cleobury Golf Club, and played for Shropshire and Herefordshire as a junior.

With his win, Farr moves from 37th to 13th on the Road to Mallorca rankings as he eyes his third promotion onto the European Tour, following successful Challenge Tour campaigns in 2014 and 2017.

Senior settled for second place after a closing two-under 70, but it cemented his place in the all-important top 15 in the Road to Mallorca rankings.

The winner of the ISPS Handa World Invitational tournament in Northern Ireland, in August, moved up seven spots into fourth position.

The 2011 Walker Cup player finished one shot clear of 20-year-old Dane Oliver Hundebøll, who finished on 11-under after a stunning six-under 66 on Sunday to record the best result of his young career.

For full results from Lalla Aïcha Challenge Tour click here.

•The Challenge Tour now heads back to Europe for the Stone Irish Challenge from October 10-13, which marks the first of the final four events on the 2019 Road to Mallorca, in November, with a trip to China in between.

The post Farr wins Morocco’s Lalla Aïcha Challenge after superb 63 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam appeared first on Golf North.

Jack Senior is looking to follow up his European Challenge Tour win in Northern Ireland two weeks ago, with victory in Belgium, on Sunday. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FOR the second time in the last three weeks, Jack Senior finds himself on top of a leaderboard after opening the KPMG Trophy with rounds of 63 and 66 to take a one-shot lead on 13-under.

Through the first two days, the Englishman has carded 16 birdies against only three bogeys and is displaying the form which earned him a second-career European Challenge Tour victory only two weeks ago in the ISPS Handa World Invitational, in Northern Ireland.

Senior then backed up the win with a top 15 finish in last week’s Rolex Trophy and through the first 36-holes at Millennium Golf, things have continued to go his way.

“I had two chip-ins, back-to-back at six and seven and then drove the green and made birdie at eight,” Senior said.

“I think when you start to see them go in, it’s funny because you could stand there and hit good putts and not really hole anything and your confidence starts to drain away a little bit, but I feel over the last couple of weeks I felt like I rolled the ball well.”

The 31-year-old has been a consistent performer on the European Challenge Tour over the past six-seasons, but sitting in 11^th on the Road to Mallorca rankings, he has played his way into the coveted top-15, and a strong result in Belgium could further bolster his chances of graduating to the European Tour at the end of the season.

Senior said: “I had my girlfriend on the bag the last couple of weeks. I think it just helps having someone there by your side at times, who knows you really well and knows what to say at the right times.

“Although she’s not here this week, it’s a bit of a continuation on how things have been going. I just feel confident on the greens and confident with the putter at the minute,” said Senior, who won the Hampshire Hog at North Hants GC, as an amateur.

“How long that will last nobody knows, so I’ve just got to go out tomorrow with the same attitude and see where we end up.”

Victory at the KPMG Trophy will not come easily, as 29 players sit within five strokes of the lead at the halfway point.

The chasing pack is led by a European Tour winner in Surrey’s Ross McGowan and Germany’s Sebastian Heisele, who fired a 10-under par 61 on Thursday, which still stands as the low-round of the week.

Home-favourite Christopher Mivis – who grew up playing Millennium Golf with friend and fellow-countryman Thomas Pieters – opened the KPMG Trophy with a pair of 67s to hold low-Belgian honours through the first two rounds.

In total, 74 players survived the cut, which fell on five-under. The 137 strokes or fewer needed to advance to the weekend marked the lowest cut, in terms of cumulative score, this season on the Challenge Tour.

Day three of the KPMG Trophy begins on Saturday at 7:20am with the lead group of Senior, McGowan and Heisele set to go at 11:40am. For live scoring click here.

The post Jack Senior having his moments on Challenge Tour appeared first on Golf North.

Wellingboro Golf Club’s Meghan Maclaren in the third round of Jordan Mixed Open, at Ayla Golf Club. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

MEGHAN MacLaren could not produce her second win in a month – and more importantly this time against a field of men – as she lost out to Holland’s Daan Huizing in the ground-breaking Jordan Mixed Open, on Saturday.

Having been an outspoken critic of the disparities in prize money between men and women’s golf in the build-up to the event, the Wellingboro GC member was proud of her display as she missed out by a couple of shots.

Meghan, who led the unique 54-hole format tournament by two shots going into the last day, said: “I’m obviously pretty disappointed not to win this week, having been in such a good position.

“But it was still an honour to be here and represent women’s golf alongside two other great tours. It was pretty tight coming down the last few holes, so I think it was great entertainment for everybody watching.

“It was a great concept but none of us really knew how it would pan out. The way the scores panned out throughout the week showed that it absolutely can work with the right thought process and course set-up if people do the research.

“Female golfers have done ourselves proud this week and it’s been a great environment to be in with all three tours. It’s been an honour to be here and it was a great concept and one that I hope can catch on in the future.

“The research that went into it played out with the scores because it was pretty comparable across the three tours, so I’d like to see it happen more often. I think they did a great job considering that it was the first time that something has been done like this – and I think that’s a great sign for the future.”

“In some ways, it felt like just another tournament, trying to get the best score possible at the end of the week. It’s definitely interesting to have different golfers alongside us.

“There are things that the guys can do and we can’t but there are things that the girls do better than the men as well. It was definitely interesting and something that could happen more often.

“It’s not so much frustration as disappointment. It hurts, but that’s golf sometimes. Golf happened. I missed a couple of putts, which doesn’t help and hit a couple of bad shots at bad times.

“You can’t afford to do things like that. It can change so quickly and everyone who plays golf knows that.

“It hurts to not win, but I know, when I get home and think about it, I’ll be proud of what I’ve done this week and I hope that I’ve represented the LET and women’s golf in general as well as possible.

“It deserves a bit of a spotlight and if this kicks things up a bit, then I’m proud of what’s happened.”

Jordan Mixed Open declared a success by Higginbottom

Tournament director Simon Higginbottom believes the experiment of having a third of the field from the LET, the European Challenge Tour and the Staysure Seniors Tour, playing off different tees to match up their games, had been a total success.

He said: “When something has never been done before it is difficult to know how it will play out. Before the tournament began, we had the ability to analyse average stroke distances for all categories of players.

“But matching that to the course architecture and set up on this course, this week, to create the fairest possible playing field for all competitors, was our main challenge.

“We had incredible support from all of the players in the field, who allowed us to collect invaluable data from this week, which we can scrutinise in future weeks to get an even clearer picture of how this can be done again.”

The chairman of Ayla Golf Club, Khaled Masri, was also a happy man after the ground-breaking tournament.

He said: “We are really pleased with the great success the Jordan Mixed Open by Ayla has achieved.

“This first-of-its-kind international golf tournament has attracted many golf enthusiasts from around the globe, effectively placing Jordan on the map of major golf events internationally.

“We hope to maintain this growing trend and will continue to welcome new global and regional championships to our world-class golf course.”

•For the full results in the Jordan Mixed Open click here.

Dutchman Daan Huizing with the Jordan Mixed Open trophy. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

The post Meghan MacLaren disappointed to be overtaken in Jordan thriller appeared first on Golf North.

Challenge Tour winner Daan Huizing who held off Ladies European Tour star Meghan MacLaren to claim the first-ever Jordan Mixed Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DAAN Huizing made golfing history by becoming the first player to win a full-field mixed professional tournament with his triumph at the Jordan Mixed Open.

The Dutchman began the final round at Ayla Golf Club two shots behind overnight leader Meghan MacLaren, who opened the world-first tournament with consecutive rounds of 65 to get to 14-under par.

MacLaren started the final day strong, carding two birdies on her first three holes, but Huizing was able to slowly chip away at the Englishwoman’s lead, and by the time the two golfers reached the 13th tee, they were deadlocked on 14 under par.

The stage was set for a never-before-seen battle down the stretch between a male and female golfer competing for the same first prize.

In the end, it was Huizing who came out on top as he converted three crucial birdies on the closing holes and signed for a four under par 68, which gave him a two-stroke victory.

The win was an emotional one for the 28-year-old, who admitted it was a tough off-season after he narrowly missed out on a European Tour card at last year’s Challenge Tour Grand Final.

“I’m buzzing. It’s a big moment for me. I’ve had a rough time at home recently so this is a really sweet way to prove to myself that I’ve got it. The belief in myself and the people around me, my team and my family, I’m really grateful for their support. I’m honoured. I think it’s an historic event.

The Dutchman who won twice in his first season on the Challenge Tour in 2013, said: “To be the inaugural winner — it’s a special moment. I think it’s a great initiative.

“It was great fun playing in a final group with a Challenge Tour player, a senior tour player and a lady player. It was a great battle.

“It’s a different vibe and very special to be the first winner and I hope it’s something that can be continued in the future.

“I went into the day with a pretty open mind and I knew it was going to take a low round, someone was going to shoot low today. I had a pretty rough start and lipped out a couple of putts for birdie and holed a couple of good ones for par on two and three.

“It wasn’t easy and I didn’t play great. I had a few loose ones to the right yesterday and today again, but I battled really well.

“Mentally I was in really good shape and that’s what got me through. I stuck to my processes, stayed patient and Meghan was playing really, really well.

“She holed a couple of big putts on the front nine but left the door open for me on 10 and 11 and I answered with two really good birdies on 12 and 13.

“The buzz and tension down the stretch was great. It was a fight and it wasn’t pretty at times, but it was a great experience and really valuable going forwards as well.

“There are a huge amount of positives that I can take from this,” added the player who claimed the presitigious Lytham and St Andrews Links trophies in his last season as an amateur in 2012, a rare feat in itself.

MacLaren finished the Jordan Mixed Open alone in second place — two shots clear of Martin Simonsen, who matched the Ayla Golf Club course record with a final round of 64, which moved him 17 places up the leaderboard and into third place.

Forty players from each of the European Challenge Tour, the Staysure Tour and the Ladies European Tour, plus three amateurs, made up the 123-player field and will forever be remembered as a game-changing tournament.

The final grouping comprised of one player from each of the three Tours, and of the 66 players that made the cut, 20 represented the Ladies European Tour, 21 were from the Staysure Tour and 25 were from the Challenge Tour.

In addition, the back nine battle for the win between MacLaren and Huizing created tense drama all the way to the end.

Players from all three Tours were represented in the top five. The best performer from the over-50s contingent was José Coceres of Argentina who finished in a tie for fourth place alongside Challenge Tour players Jack Senior and Oliver Farr.

Thorough research was performed by tournament officials before the event began.

Data on driving distance, approach shot distance, club selection and scoring was collected after each round, and will provide crucial findings to all three tours.

The low-amateur competitor, Emilie Paltrinieri of Italy, carded rounds of 70, 74, 73 to finish the tournament on one-over.

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Meghan MacLaren leads the first Jordan Mixed Open after shooting a second successive 65 at the Ayla Golf Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MEGHAN MacLaren picked up where she left off by carding a second consecutive 65 and will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Jordan Mixed Open, on Saturday.

The Northamptonshire-based pro, who is a champion for the strength of the women’s professional game, has carded 15 birdies and only one bogey through two rounds as her game continues to personify her larger message to the golfing world.

Sitting on 14-under par, the 23-year-old from Wellingboro GC, will look to make history as the first champion in mixed professional golf.

A win would be her second victory of the year, and add to her Solheim Cup points total, after she successfully defended her Women’s NSW Open title in February.

Meghan, whose father David heads the Seniors Tour, said: “There’s a lot of other stuff going on, and I’m proud of the position all three tours have put themselves in, and proud for golf as a whole for this tournament.

“But tomorrow is going to be completely about my own game and trying to get the best score possible out there.

“It looks like a pretty even split with all the players making the cut, which would have been exactly what the tour representatives and the people setting the course up would have wanted, and with a player from each tour in the last group, they couldn’t have written it any better than that.

“I think it’s a testament to the amount of research that has gone into it and that the people running the tournament know about golf. This isn’t just some gimmick, like ‘oh let’s see if this works.’

“There’s been a lot of thought into it and I’m happy it’s playing out like this. I think that’s only going to be encouraging for the future.

“I think this shows that women’s golf has more than a leg to stand on, and if I can prove a point in that regard, then that’s an added bonus.”

“I work hard because I just love golf, it’s not really anything more than that. I guess working hard is just part of my make-up and it’s part of what makes me a good player.

“There’s something nice about when there’s not many people around and you know you’re putting work in, but it’s got to be work that is of benefit to you and not everybody does that.”

Two shots behind MacLaren on 12-under is European Challenge Tour player Daan Huizing, who signed for a second round 68. The Dutchman matched the Ayla Golf Club course-record on Thursday with his a 64 and will now chase his own place in history in tomorrow’s final round.

Dan, who won twice in his rookie season on the Challenge Tour in 2013, but has not won since, said: “There are a couple of things I need to smooth out but I’m happy with how I’m conducting myself and I’m in a good position for tomorrow.

“The goal is to go out and win the thing. That is what we play for and what we practise for.

“I managed my way around quite well and the putts were good. It was the total opposite breeze today from yesterday so every hole was playing differently.

“The par fives, which were down wind and playing easy yesterday were into the wind today. I’ll make some notes from that. I’ve seen the course from both directions now, so whatever happens tomorrow, I’ll be prepared.”

Joining MacLaren and Huizing in the final group is 2018 Staysure Tour Rookie of the Year, Paul Streeter. The 52-year-old from Lincoln signed for rounds of 66 and 70, which puts him in a three-way tie for third place alongside Challenge Tour players Jack Senior, from Lancashire and Wales’ Oliver Farr.

Since Streeter was the first of the three players to complete his second round, he has the honour of playing in the final grouping. As a result, one player from each cohort will engage in golf’s first three-Tour battle down the stretch as they all vie to become the inaugural winner of the Jordan Mixed Open.

Streeter, who won twice in his first full season last year on the over 50s tour, said: “Score-wise, it was as much as I deserved. I didn’t play great and struggled a bit off the tee. I struggled with the pace of the greens and had a couple of three putts out there. Overall, I’d take that.

“Beth Allen was brilliant to play with. She’s a great golfer. She shot a few over each day but she played so much better than that. I really enjoyed it.

“It’s nice to see the ladies play golf, because I think I knew one female professional golfer before this week, and they’re not in the league of what Beth is, so it was great to play with her and see what she does.”

A world-first, the Jordan Mixed Open sees 40 players from each of the Challenge Tour, the Staysure Tour and the Ladies European Tour to competing for the same trophy.

The 36-hole cut will  reduce the field to a total of 66 players for the final round. Of those 66 players, there are 20 representing the Ladies European Tour, 21 from the Staysure Tour and 25 from the Challenge Tour.

The even split of players, and the composition of the final grouping is yet another victory for the future of mixed professional golf.

The important collection of data continued on day two. Driving distances, approach shot distances, competitors’ club selections and individual hole scoring averages were recorded, and the growing data sample will once again inform the course set-up for the final round.

Challenge Tour players have been competing from approximately 7,100 yards, with Staysure Tour players playing from 6,601 yards and Ladies European Tour players from 6,139 yards. Adjustments are made each day based on wind direction and overall weather conditions.

The final round of the historic Jordan Mixed Open begins at 10:30 am BST, on Saturday, with the final grouping of MacLaren, Huizing and Streeter set to go at 14:16 pm UK time.

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Wellingboro’s Meghan MacLaren, who shot a superb 65 in the first round of the Jordan Mixed Open, at Ayla Golf Club. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

DAAN Huizing will forever hold a small place in history as the first overnight leader of the Jordan Mixed Open on eight-under par – but it was the LET’s Meghan MacLaren who did the most to make the unique format an instant success.

The Dutchman birdied half of the holes at Ayla Golf Club against only one bogey to card an opening round of 64.

The sublime score gave Huizing a one-shot advantage over two golfers from England — fellow Challenge Tour player Jack Senior and Ladies European Tour player Meghan MacLaren.

The first day at the Jordan Mixed saw the first use in the world of a format allowing men, women and senior golfers to compete in the same field.

MacLaren, who has been a vocal advocate for the strength of the women’s professional game, wasted no time in backing up her words.

She carded birdies on her first two holes and rode the momentum to post the early target of seven-under.

When the high winds forecast for the afternoon failed to materialise, several players, including Huizing, Senior and 2018 Staysure Tour Rookie of the Year Paul Streeter took advantage.

MacLaren, who successfully defended her Women’s New South Wales Open title last month, was delighted with her start.

She said: “If I’m going to write about it and talk about it all the time, then I’d better back it up with my golf.

“I’m delighted to do it in this tournament, particularly. Hopefully it will send a bit of a message.

“But any time you shoot seven-under in a tournament, you’re not going to be too far off the lead. Hopefully this means a few more people will be watching.

“Given everything I’ve talked about over the last few months, it is nice to back it up. But I didn’t want to put any extra pressure on myself. I’ve been saying to everybody that the girls’ standard of play will show if the course is set up properly.

“I’m just happy with how I’ve played and if that puts me near the top against the guys, then that’s just a bonus, really.”

Dutchman Daan Huzing tees off at the par five ninth in the first round of the Jordan Mixed Open, at Ayla Golf Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Huizing, who won the Lythan Trophy and St Andrews Links Trophy in 2012 before turning pro after playing in his second Eisenhower Trophy at that year’s World Amateur Team Championship, in Turkey, said: “It was a really nice round. I was hitting it nicely and made some nice putts to keep the round going as well.

“I enjoyed it. It was pretty chilled and it was good fun,” added the two-time winner on the Challenge Tour, whose victories both in his maiden season in 2013.

“It’s a different perspective to play with the seniors and play with the ladies. It was a nice, relaxed day, and I think being relaxed helped me play well.

“It will be interesting to see after three days what the findings are, but it was fun.

“We never see the seniors or the ladies because the tournaments are never together, and to hear what they do and how their Tours are, it’s good for us to hear because we normally just see the same guys every week.”

Streeter’s six-under 66 was the low-round among the over-50s contingent and placed the Lincoln golfer firmly in the mix with two rounds to go.

He said: “It was brilliant out there. I really enjoyed it. I think the tees were fairly good and I think we were very close to each other on most holes.

“A few were different but that also depends on how you strike it and the slopes you land on, but it seemed to work really well. It’s a great format and it’s something new for everybody.”

Senior, from Lancashire was also happy with his day’s work, saying: “I think you’ve got to enjoy this format, but it’s hard to know how it’s all going to pan out at the end of the week.

“I’m sure, though, that it will be a successful event and continue to be.”

The innovative tournament sees 40 players from each of the Challenge Tour, the over-50s Staysure Tour and the Ladies European Tour compete for the same trophy over 54 holes.

With the golfing community eager to see how the course set-up would play out, the opening round of the Jordan Mixed Open was a great success with players from all three Tours in contention and well-represented inside the projected cut line of even par.

Challenge Tour players played the first round from approximately 7,100 yards, Staysure Tour players from 6,601 yards and Ladies European Tour players from 6,139 yards.

The unofficial battle for low-couple is heating up with LET Order of Merit leader Marianne Skarpnord and her fiancée, Challenge Tour player Richard Green, combining for a two-under total, while married golfers Kyle Henry of the Ladies European Tour and Scott Henry of the Challenge Tour combined for a one-over total.

Mr Henry said: “I’m sure something along these lines would be great for both the guys and the girls.

“It’s been exciting, it’s been a definite atmosphere for all of us. It’s been good fun and its definitely something where a format along these lines is good for everybody.”

And Mrs Henry, who was prepared to wager some household chores on who would come out on top, added: “It’s been a really fun week and it’s just nice to be at a tournament together because usually the Tours are in different countries and sometimes different continents.

“Scott knew the course quite well, and I didn’t manage to get a practice round, so he was really good at giving me a few tips here and there on how to play the course smartly.”

Tournament officials collected data on driving distance, approach shot distance and club selection from every player who competed on day one and will incorporate their findings into the course set-up for Day Two to continue to ensure the fairest possible playing field for all competitors.

The second round of the Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla will begin tomorrow at 7:30 am local time before the 123-player field is reduced to the top 60 players and ties for the final day.

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