Dutch players slide down the leaderboard

Today is the final day of the 2022 Dutch Open at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Holland and guess what?  There are 8 different nationalities in the top-10.  Now this is truly a wonderful European golf event!

 

Top of the scoreboard are Englishman Matt Wallace and Frenchman Victor Perez who share the lead position with a score of 10-under par.  Breathing down their necks is a swarm of players just one shot behind.  Guido Miggliozi (Italy), Ryan Fox and Scott Hend from New Zealand, and Sebastian Soderberg (Sweden) are in a good frame of mind for the closing round.  Sad news for the Dutch is that just two of the fourteen made the cut and they have slumped down the leaderboard.

 

Saturday is known as Moving Day on the European Tour.  But scores can just as easily soar as plummet.  Dutchman Joost Luiten experienced a difficult day on Friday after leading the tournament on day one with a promising 7-under par 65.  He carded a 75 on day two only to play an even more horrendous round on Saturday of 78.  Alas, Luiten will not be walking home with his third Dutch Open title this week.  He can just hope for a below par round on Sunday to give his confidence a much-needed boost.

 

Lars van Meijel was the second Dutch player to make the cut.  He’ll be doing his best today to climb back up the scoreboard after opening with a 71, 70 followed by a disappointing 77.

 

So how did Saturday fare with the players?

 

Well, the sun was shining but there was a strong wind which played havoc with the players.  The 18th hole was a challenge for many.  Indeed, Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand opened the tournament with a level par 72 only to make a rapid exit on Friday with a collosal 12 at the closing hole.  Aphibarnrat was not the only player with water troubles.  In fact, there was only one eagle there on Saturday.

 

Perez made a par at the 18th to finish at 10-under par (67, 70, 69).  A short while later Matt Wallace made a birdie at the par 5 last hole to share the lead with Perez after rounds of 69, 67 and 70.

 

Defending Champion Kristoffer Broberg (Sweden) is playing well with rounds of 68, 71 and 71.

 

How will the players challenge the course at Bernardus Golf today especially as there are a few showers predicted?  With so many in the mix there could well be a play-off.  Now that would be exciting!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  Victor Perez from France is joint leader with Matt Wallace (England) after 54 holes in the Dutch Open.