European trophy snatched against all odds in Slovakia
Golf is a fickle game. And that is why we love it so much, I guess. When we expect the best, we often experience the worst, and vice-versa. Two young Dutch golfers must have had few expectations when they played in Slovakia recently, yet walked-off with the prestigious European Ladies Club Trophy. Forced to compete as a team of two instead of the usual three, Romy Meekers and Zhen Bontan from the Pan Golf Club played the tournament of their dreams at Welten GC to round-off their amateur seasons on an absolute high.
On paper, the club near Utrecht was looking good until rising talent number three Roos Haarman, who is now studying in America, was not available for this year’s team. The trio had been all set to go a few steps further than their fifth place of 2016. Their victory earlier this year in the European Nations Cup still fresh in their minds.
With no suitable substitute, Meekers and Bontan made the bold decision, with the club’s backing, to represent the Pan GC with just the two of them. This meant that every shot was more crucial than ever in the three-day event in Slovakia. Both of their scores would have to count each day, no matter the total. All the other teams would have the luxury of discounting the worst of their three scores each round.
Surprise, surprise on day one
The Dutch team opened with some superb golf to take the lead on day one with 144 shots. The host club of Welten were three off the pace in second place. Although Meekers and Bontan needed four more shots in the second round, their combined score of 148 was still the best of the day, tied with the Paris Country Club.
The third and final round saw the Dutch duo on fire. They came in with an impressive tally of 139 to give them a one-under par aggregate score of 431 and so lift the European team title by a mile. The team from the Pan GC completed the three rounds in an amazing 12 strokes fewer than their nearest rival, the Paris Country Club. A victory made even more remarkable by the fact that the team from Holland had no safety net. Every single shot was vitally important as both of their rounds had to count. There was no room for an off-day. And that, they admit, was their strength. They could not afford to lose their focus for one minute.
It is the first time in the history of the tournament, which is organised by the European Golf Association, that a team with just two players has won. Not too surprisingly, they picked up the awards for the best individual scores too. With scores of 73, 73, 73: 219 (+3), Zhen Bontan, the 2017 Dutch Strokeplay Champion, came a very respectable second. Romy Meekers, the reigning Italian Amateur Champion and Dutch Open Champion, was without doubt the player of the week. After opening with a 1-under par 71, she carded a 3-over par 75 and then closed the tournament in incredible style with an impeccable 6-under par 66.
In third place were the winners of the last three editions of the European Ladies Club Trophy, Racing Club de France.
Many congratulations, Romy and Zhen! What an impressive victory!
Wendy Hoad
READ MORE about Romy Meekers, Zhen Bontan and their triumph HERE. (Dutch language)
PICTURED: The winners of the European Ladies Club Trophy, Zhen Bontan (centre left) and Romy Meekers. Courtesy of the European Golf Association.