Bearded and inspired in South Africa

In the first event of the 2015-2016 European Tour’s Race to Dubai in South Africa (26-29 November) Dutchman Joost Luiten showed promising signs of the kind of form that so nearly earned him a place in the last Ryder Cup team. The 29-year old player from Rotterdam played four rock solid rounds (68-70-71-71) for a score of 8-under par in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at the par-72 Leopard Creek Country Club course, near Kruger Park, which earned him a share of 5th place with Frenchman Thomas Linard and Matt Ford from England.  The trio finished seven shots behind 31-year old South African Charl Schwartzel who snatched the title in his home country for the fourth time in ten years.

 

Although Joost’s prize-winner’s cheque of 53,100 euro’s for 5th spot was a snip compared with the champion’s payout of 237,750 euro’s, Holland’s only player on the European Tour once more this season, is hopefully reasonably satisfied with his performance. He has finally shot four rounds below par again which surely must be good for an early season confidence boost.

 

“Proost Joost!”

 

Wendy Hoad