Ben Elsworth narrowly triumphed in the Royal Golf Club’s unique version of the Open Championship at the weekend with a four over par combined team score of 217.
Each competitor drew the name of one of the real Open Championship players from a hat prior to teeing off in the annual tournament, then their net score was added to the gross score of their Open ‘partners’ Thursday and Friday rounds at Muirfield to give an aggregate score overall.
Elsworth’s net 74 was added to his ‘partner,’ American Webb Simpson’s scores of 73 in round one and 70 in round two to give a total of 217.
Second place went to Brendy Santiago who drew Tim Clark as her playing partner, adding his scores of 72 and 76 to her 70 for a total of 218.
Third place went to Rob Lane who shot a nett 77, which was added to Scottish pro Martin Laird’s rounds of 70 and 71 for a total of 218. Santiago and Lane had tied on the same score in the battle for second and third places but Santiago’s lower individual score gave her the runners up slot.
“This is a fun format for the players to compete in as they do not know how their professional will do,” said John Wilson, the Royal Golf Club’s golf sales & events manager.
results: 1st Ben Elsworth (nett 74) + Pro Webb Simpson (73+70) = 217, 2nd Brendy Santiago (nett 70) + Pro Tim Clark (72+76) = 218 c/b best nett, 3rd Rob Lane (nett 77) + Pro Martin Laird (70+71) = 218, 4th Paul Quigley (nett 78) + Pro Zach Johnson (66+75) = 219, 5th Simon Brebner (nett 74) + Pro Sergio Garcia (75+73) = 222 c/b best net.