SPRINGBOK SCOT
DOUG McGUIGAN
BOOKS PLACE
AT CARNOUSTIE
When Doug McGuigan, pictured right, wrapped his arms around the Claret Jug at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club today, nothing but the Open title itself would have left a wider smile.
He qualified at Atlantic Beach in 2005 and two years later he has done it again.The fact that he was sharing the spotlight with Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, did not bother McGuigan in the least, but he did admit that he would have preferred not to share the first place spoils.
"At least our flights are both covered," said a smiling McGuigan as he reluctantly let go of golf's most coveted piece of silverware, the Claret Jug, to join the press.
First in the clubhouse at 10-under-par 134 after the final round of International Final Qualifying (Africa) meant that the South African-born Scot was the first player from IFQ to book his berth in the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie in July.
COURSE RECORD 62 BY BOTES
McGuigan and Adilson Da Silva, fellow Sunshine Tour players, shot matching rounds of 66 and 68 to tie for the lead, while 14-time Sunshine Tour winner, Desvonde Botes, wrote a little history of his own at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington on his way to sharing the third spot
In 1991, Botes won the South African amateur championship at the East Course with 3 and 1 victory over Barry Sundelson, becoming the youngest winner of the match-play title at the age of 16.
Sixteen years later, breaking par for the first time on the West course, Botes tore up the course with 11 birdies against a lone bogey for a course record 62.His score, one better than another Springbok-Scot, Andrew McLardy's six-day record set during last weeks' Joburg Open, took his overall score to nine-under
Australian challenger Terry Pilkadaris, after having a glance at the leaderboard, birdied 14 and 15, then holed a crucial putt for eagle at the last for a final round 68 to tie Botes for the third spot on 135.
The feisty Aussie also claimed rookie honours as the only player in the leading quartet not to have teed it up in an Open before.
McGuigan said afterwards that some of his inspiration to qualify came from a letter in the post five weeks ago, when he received a signed photo of the legend 'Jack Nicklaus' at St Andrews after his final appearance at the Open.
"Just looking at that picture gave me the courage to fight for a spot," he said afterwards. "It doesn't matter how many times you go there, you are always in awe when you get there."
McGuigan played in the 2005 Open, where he missed the cut. A four time Dunhill Links competitor at Carnoustie, McGuigan hopes to keep his form alive until the Open there.
"I'm going over to Carnoustie a little wiser and a little older," he said.
"But in the greater scheme of things, to be standing on the driving range with guys like Tiger Woods, Chris Dimarco and Jim Furyk is an overwhelming experience.
"I hope my Dunhill Links experience will do me well, because it a difficult course that requires accuracy and the precision of a surgeon. The greens alone at Carnoustie produce more tears than a funeral."
The remaining four IFQ's will be played at:
The Lakes, Sydney (Australasia) on February 6.
Sentosa, Singapore (Asia) on March 27 & 28.
Oakland Hills, Michigan (America) on 2 July 2.
Sunningdale (Europe) on July 2.
Leading scores:
QUALIFIERS FOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
134 Adilson Da Silva (Brazil) 66 68, Douglas McGuigan (Sco) 66 68.
135 Desvonde Botes (South Africa) 72 63, Terry Pilkadaris (Australia) 67 68.
Other scores (players from South Africa unless stated):
136 Trevor Moore 71 65.
136 Dion Fourie 68 68, Michael Lamb (Zimbabwe) 68 68, Vaughn Groenewald 68 68, Tyrone Van Aswegen 66 70.
137 Tongoona Charamba (Zimbabwe) 71 66.
DOUG McGUIGAN
BOOKS PLACE
AT CARNOUSTIE
When Doug McGuigan, pictured right, wrapped his arms around the Claret Jug at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club today, nothing but the Open title itself would have left a wider smile.
He qualified at Atlantic Beach in 2005 and two years later he has done it again.The fact that he was sharing the spotlight with Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, did not bother McGuigan in the least, but he did admit that he would have preferred not to share the first place spoils.
"At least our flights are both covered," said a smiling McGuigan as he reluctantly let go of golf's most coveted piece of silverware, the Claret Jug, to join the press.
First in the clubhouse at 10-under-par 134 after the final round of International Final Qualifying (Africa) meant that the South African-born Scot was the first player from IFQ to book his berth in the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie in July.
COURSE RECORD 62 BY BOTES
McGuigan and Adilson Da Silva, fellow Sunshine Tour players, shot matching rounds of 66 and 68 to tie for the lead, while 14-time Sunshine Tour winner, Desvonde Botes, wrote a little history of his own at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington on his way to sharing the third spot
In 1991, Botes won the South African amateur championship at the East Course with 3 and 1 victory over Barry Sundelson, becoming the youngest winner of the match-play title at the age of 16.
Sixteen years later, breaking par for the first time on the West course, Botes tore up the course with 11 birdies against a lone bogey for a course record 62.His score, one better than another Springbok-Scot, Andrew McLardy's six-day record set during last weeks' Joburg Open, took his overall score to nine-under
Australian challenger Terry Pilkadaris, after having a glance at the leaderboard, birdied 14 and 15, then holed a crucial putt for eagle at the last for a final round 68 to tie Botes for the third spot on 135.
The feisty Aussie also claimed rookie honours as the only player in the leading quartet not to have teed it up in an Open before.
McGuigan said afterwards that some of his inspiration to qualify came from a letter in the post five weeks ago, when he received a signed photo of the legend 'Jack Nicklaus' at St Andrews after his final appearance at the Open.
"Just looking at that picture gave me the courage to fight for a spot," he said afterwards. "It doesn't matter how many times you go there, you are always in awe when you get there."
McGuigan played in the 2005 Open, where he missed the cut. A four time Dunhill Links competitor at Carnoustie, McGuigan hopes to keep his form alive until the Open there.
"I'm going over to Carnoustie a little wiser and a little older," he said.
"But in the greater scheme of things, to be standing on the driving range with guys like Tiger Woods, Chris Dimarco and Jim Furyk is an overwhelming experience.
"I hope my Dunhill Links experience will do me well, because it a difficult course that requires accuracy and the precision of a surgeon. The greens alone at Carnoustie produce more tears than a funeral."
The remaining four IFQ's will be played at:
The Lakes, Sydney (Australasia) on February 6.
Sentosa, Singapore (Asia) on March 27 & 28.
Oakland Hills, Michigan (America) on 2 July 2.
Sunningdale (Europe) on July 2.
Leading scores:
QUALIFIERS FOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
134 Adilson Da Silva (Brazil) 66 68, Douglas McGuigan (Sco) 66 68.
135 Desvonde Botes (South Africa) 72 63, Terry Pilkadaris (Australia) 67 68.
Other scores (players from South Africa unless stated):
136 Trevor Moore 71 65.
136 Dion Fourie 68 68, Michael Lamb (Zimbabwe) 68 68, Vaughn Groenewald 68 68, Tyrone Van Aswegen 66 70.
137 Tongoona Charamba (Zimbabwe) 71 66.
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Wednesday, January 17, 2007
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