Surviving the cut, or not …

A total of 13 Dutch hopefuls, amateur and professional, teed-off in the KLM Open at the Kennemer G&CC in Zandvoort (10-13 September). Alas, only two were to survive the cut and play in the weekend: Holland’s number one golfer, Joost Luiten (-6) and Challenge Tour player, 29-year old Wil Besseling (-5).

 

This year the cut was especially tough. For the last few years, the halfway cut had fallen at level par in Holland, with the exception of 2013 when Joost won at the Kennemer. The guillotine fell that year at 1-under par. So hopes were running high for the players on 2-under par – the anticipated cut for much of Friday.

 

With the wind dropping at the end of the day, scores improved once again with the late starters getting the benefit of calm conditions. In the end, the cut came at 3-under par leaving 14 players just one shot adrift on plus two.

 

Among the disappointed, who came so agonisingly close, were three Dutch players: Ralph Miller (69-69); Fernand Osther (70-68) and amateur Robbie van West, who after carding a 72 on Thursday followed up with a very impressive 66. So near, yet so far. However, they can be proud of their efforts, certainly if they look further down the missed-cut leaderboard and see such class acts as former Ryder Cup players Thomas Bjorn, Jamie Donaldson (pictured), Paul McGinley and Peter Hanson behind them.

 

Wendy Hoad

 

Photography by Golfing Inspirations.