Challenge Tour at Bogota

Food poisoning floors Richie

Ramsay in Colombia Masters

Dutchman Wil Besseling was simply unstoppable as he romped to a seven-shot victory in the II Club Colombia Masters at the Country Club de Bogotá.
Enjoying a two-stroke overnight lead, the 22 year old’s final round 66 for a 16 under par total of 268 saw him finish out of sight of second placed Antti Ahokas of Finland and Denmark’s Mark Haastrup who each carded 71 for matching totals of nine under par 275.
Besseling picked up the winner’s cheque for €18,303 which moved him from 41st to sixth place on the European Challenge Tour Rankings.
“I started very well and my swing felt good all day,” he said. “I struggled a little yesterday, but today it was really good. I didn’t make any mistakes and it feels great to be the winner.”
On another overcast and chilly day, the Dutchman got off to a hot start in the final round with four birdies in his first nine holes which saw him to the turn in impressive figures of 31 which extinguished any real hope his challengers harboured of catching him.
On the back nine, a bogey at the 12th was immediately righted with an eagle three at the 13th and five solid par figures to finish saw him home in style.
“Although I had a lead, I just tried to keep playing one shot at a time,” he added. “The guys made some bogeys behind me and that made the gap even bigger but I just kept playing my own game and it all worked out perfectly. It feels awesome.”
A student of form would have earmarked the Dutchman for success as in the series of three events in Argentina and Colombia – co-sanctioned between the European Challenge Tour and the Tour de las Americas – he had constantly improved; finishing tied for 48th in the 77th Abierto VISA del Centro two weeks ago and tied ninth in the 103rd Abierto VISA de la Republica last week.
His performance in the latter tournament was all the more laudable considering he had to attend the pre-qualifying tournament on the previous Monday and was one of the four European Challenge Tour Members to make it through.
Argentina’s Estanislao Goya, winner of the 77th Abierto VISA del Centro, was one of four players who tied for fifth place in Colombia, a performance good enough to maintain his position at the top of the Challenge Tour Rankings.
Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay (Cal Carson Golf Agency image above) was a victim of food poisoning and had to stay in bed while the final round was being played. He had felt unwell during his third round and struggled to finish with a three-over-par 74, which proved to be his final round.
"I had been up all night and could not keep any food down," said Ramsay. "It's disappointing as I had been playing some decent golf until I started to feel unwell. I will be heading home on Monday and will go to see my own doctor in Aberdeen."

Ramsay was officially placed last of the 61 qualifiers for the final rounds. His earlier rounds were 70 and 72 to beat the cut with nothing to spare. His pay check amounted to 540 Euros.

Fellow Aberdonian Scott Henderson finished joint 43rd on 286. He earned 954 Euros.
The Challenge Tour now takes a week off before heading to France, where the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d'Armour Bretagne is set to start on April 23.

LEADING TOTALS IN COLOMBIA MASTERS
268 W Besseling (NED) 67 66 69 66.
275 A Ahokas (FIN) 68 66 70 71, M Hasstrup (DEN) 69 64 71 71.
276 A Rocha (BRA) 71, 69, 69, 67.
277 E Goya (ARG) 68 68 72 69, S Benson (ENG) 68 73 65 71, A Pinedo (COL) 70 68 67 72, J Hoyos (COL) 72 67 70 68.
279 R McEvoy (ENG) 68 72 72 67, B Alvarado (CHI) 69 72 70, 68; T Karjalainen (FIN) 72 67 68 72, J Amaya (COL) 72 70 66 71.
280 I Van Weerelt (NED) 67 69 71 73, M Ruiz (PAR) 67 70 73 70, K Eriksson (SWE) 69 67 70 74, D De Leon (MEX) 69 68 72 71, G Acosta (ARG) 69 70 72 69, P Acuna (GTM) 70, 66, 72, 72.
Other total:
286 S Henderson (Sco) 71 71 72 72 (jt 43rd) (954 Euros).
Retired: R Ramsay (Sco) 70 72 74 Ret (540 Euros).