Joy and heartbreak of Dutch players in KLM Open
Joost Luiten may not have successfully defended his KLM Open title at The Dutch in September, but there was enough inspired golf played by other Dutch players to keep the home crowd happy. Take Max Albertus. At the eleventh hour, hence no time to think or get nervous, the young player, originally from the Noordwijkse Golf Club, played out of his golf shoes in Spijk after opening with a stunning 69.
Playing alongside some of the best Tour pros in Europe, Max made the level-par-cut look a breeze with his 36-hole tally of 3-under par. He went on to shoot four highly respectable rounds of 69, 70, 73, 68 to finish in a tie for 48th spot and collect 7,740 euros – his biggest pay-cheque so far. His 3-under par on Sunday was a majestic finish in which he managed to clawback the three shots he had dropped to par in round three. All in all, considering the stormy conditions with disruptive rain delays, 23-year old Albertus played a solid tournament. A good indication perhaps of the bright future that lays ahead for the young Dutchman who now trains at the KLM Open’s new venue in Gelderland.
Glimpse of glory days for Lafeber
However, it was a fellow countryman almost twenty years his senior that was even faster out of the starting blocks. Maarten Lafeber, the 2003 Dutch Open Champion (pictured above), who now plays on the Challenge Tour owing to dip in form, looked in great shape on the Thursday. As an early starter, he took advantage of the calm conditions before the rains lashed down and play was halted to post his name near the top of the leaderboard. His opening round of 3-under par 68 giving the home crowd something to cheer about. They certainly needed it. Their hero Joost Luiten, also an early starter, recorded a frustrating 75 strokes on his scorecard.
Round two start-times were severely delayed which resulted in Luiten (pictured below) hanging around for most of the day before eventually teeing-off at 17.00 hours. Patience was to be the key to making the weekend cut at The Dutch. The defending champion’s start looked promising, especially after his eagle at the 6th hole. But a string of pars followed. Just before darkness fell and play was halted again, Luiten bogeyed the 11th and then heroically got the shot back at the next.
What is traditionally known as ‘moving day’ on Saturday, could best be described as ‘slow moving day’ at this year’s KLM Open. There was an awful lot of play still to be finished before it would be known who had survived the cut. When second round play resumed early Saturday morning, Luiten promptly dropped a shot. It was fast-becoming ‘unlucky 13’ for Luiten who had now made two bogey sixes at the 611-yard, par 5 hole. He now had to produce something sensational over the closing holes if he were to make the level-par projected cut. And he so nearly did. Back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th followed by two pars saw him card a fighting 3-under par 68. Alas one agonising shot away from the cutline. A fate also suffered by Lafeber. The two past Dutch Open Champions both shot 143 (+1): Lafeber 68-75 and Luiten 75-68. The blow was even more bitter for Lafeber who had been so pleased with his return to form at the start of this year’s KLM Open only to finish with a costly bogey at the final hole.
Proud Monty
It must be said that the inland-links stood-up amazingly well to the torrential downpours of rain. All credit to Monty and his co-course designers and the green-keeping team at The Dutch. Thankfully the greens were barely affected so putted well and true all week, giving the players at least a chance of redeeming a few dropped shots on the putting surface. Few would have thought halfway through that the trophy would be presented on Sunday, but miraculously the European Tour managed to finally catch-up with the delayed rounds by the end of Saturday.
Frenchman Wattel excels
Sometimes in life you need a lucky break. Last-minute changes in the field can give you the chance of a lifetime. Former Ryder Cup player Victor Dubuisson from France pulling out of this year’s KLM Open at the last minute may have had a double impact. Firstly, it gave Max Albertus the opportunity of playing in one of the oldest tournaments on the European Tour. Secondly, it made way for two other Frenchmen to step into the spotlight: Joël Stalter and Romain Wattel.
Wattel excelled on Sunday to seize his maiden European Tour victory with a score of 15-under par just one stroke ahead of Canada’s Austin Connelly. READ MORE.
Besseling best Dutch player
The honour of winning the Gerard de Wit Medal for the best Dutch player went to Wil Besseling. The player from Zwaag had his best result ever in the Dutch Open. Not only did he finish in a share of 20th position, but he also closed-out with an impressive round of 67 (4-under par) to soar fifteen places up the final leaderboard and earn himself a cheque for 20,376 euros.
In total, only four of the 18 Dutch players competing made the cut. As well as Besseling and Albertus, two players associated with the Golfsociëteit de Lage Vuursche survived the weekend. In top form was 27-year old Daan Huizing (pictured above) from Soest, the former World Amateur Number 2, who rekindled some of the glorious golf from his amateur days to become the second best Dutch player in the KLM Open this year. The Challenge Tour pro fulfilled some of the promise he had shown at the Kennemer in 2014 (pictured above). Although a poor third round that year saw him plummet down the leaderboard.
Three tough years on Tour later, Huizing maintained his form throughout the tournament to fashion four delightful rounds at The Dutch: 69, 71, 72, 67. His score of 5-under par being good enough for a share of 38th spot and 10,800 euros in prizemoney. Interesting to realise that he missed the cut by one stroke last year along with this year’s champion Romain Wattel – what a difference a year makes!
Miller grinds away to make the weekend
The fourth player flying the red, white and blue flag for Holland at the weekend was Ralph Miller. He put on a good display of golf in Spijk in tough conditions opening with 73, 69, 72. Sadly his wheels came off in the sunshine on Sunday (75) but the 41-year old PGA pro proved without doubt that the wildcard he had earned during the ING Private Banking Golf Week at Prise d’eau Golf Club in the summer was well-deserved.
Wendy Hoad
READ MORE ABOUT Romain Wattel’s victory in the 98th Dutch Open Championship.
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: Wil Besseling. CENTRE: Maarten Lafeber. BELOW: Daan Huizing
© Photography by Golfing Inspirations. Joost Luiten photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images.