Handsel Triumphs as Oosthuizen Breaks into a Canter at Al Hamra
Friday the 16th of July was an eventful day for the golf fanatic as competitors in the 2010 Open Challenge played a sun baked Al Hamra links while the world’s best professional golfers tackled the St. Andrews fairways and winds. Asthe golfers battled the heat at Al Hamra, birdies and eagles were a little thinner on the ground at St. Andrews than a snail run over by a dumper truck, with numerous top professionals making hat-tricks of bogeys and hemorrhaging shots galore.
However, for Luis Oosthuizen life on the St. Andrews links seemed very much like a bed of roses as he broke into a canter while looking to claim his first major title and lift the coveted claret jug. Back at Al Hamra the members and visitors were not to be over shadowed as they set out in temperatures that were hot enough to melt the grass beneath their feet and as expected they didn’t disappoint producing a mass of scores that the professionals at St. Andrews would be happy with.
The 2010 Open Challenge required each competitor to randomly draw 3 Past Open Champions, one from 3 categories – high, mid and low Open winning scores to form a dream fourball. Following the draw each competitor then added their to Par net score to the winning scores of their Past 3 Champions to form a final total. Finishing in third place was John Washburn with an overall level par total after his 75 net (+3, over par) was added to the Open winning scores of Paul Lawrie (+6), Bobby Locke (+3) and Tom Weiskopf (-12). A further 8 shots ahead in second place was Nick Hymas with a 5 under total, after his fantastic round of 68 net (- 4, under par) was added to that of Past Champions Arthur Havers (+7), Stewart Cink (-2) and Ernie Els (-6). Storming to the top and lifting the Open Challenge title 2010 was Rick Handsel, who carded a 13 under par total. To his drawn Past Open Champions – Jock Hutchinson (+8), Jack Nicklaus (-5) and Peter Thompson (-10), Handsel added his total of 6 under par (66 net) which is his best round to date at Al Hamra Golf Club.
In the Gross Division Nick Oatridge finished top of the pile with a steady round of 84, while Liezl Ward laid claim to the Net Division with her 1 under par round of 71. The days 2’s pot was shared between George Ward after his silky 2 on the 4th hole and Nick Hymas, who recorded two 2’s during his round.
