The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Luiten conjures up Dutch double
Golf: Joost wins on home turf minutes after Huizing triumph
Joost Luiten made it a day of double Dutch delight with victory in the KLM Open after compatriot Daan Huizing won the Kharkov Superior Cup on the Challenge Tour.
Minutes after Huizing secured a two-shot win in the Ukraine, Luiten beat Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off at Kennemer Golf Club.
A par on the 18th was enough to give Luiten his third European Tour title and second of the season after Jimenez three-putted from long range.
Jimenez, already the oldest winner in European Tour history, began the day a shot behind playing partner Luiten but quickly moved into the lead courtesy of a hat-trick of birdies from the second and another on the sixth.
The 49-year-old missed from two feet for abirdie on the 12th but soon enjoyed a two-shot cushion when he birdied the next and Luiten bogeyed.
However, Luiten birdied the 14th after a superb approach to five feet and got back on level terms on the next when Jimenez failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker.
Both players bogeyed the
“I tried to just hang in there until the back nine”
17th and parred the last to finish tied on 12 under par, Jimenez carding a 67 and Luiten a 68.
They returned to the 18th for the play-off and Jimenez needed a fairway wood for his second shot into a strong wind on the 400yd par 4, just finding the front edge of the green.
However, the 19-time European Tour winner charged his birdie attempt six feet past the hole and missed the return, leaving Luiten to hole from three feet for the win which brought a massive cheer from the packed galleries.
“Miguel was playing great, especially on the front nine when he started with four birdies in six holes and I was struggling a little bit,” said Luiten.
“I made a few mistakes and although I saved par each time I tried to just hang in there until the back nine, hoping I could make a move there and that happened.”
Luiten finished second to Ross Fisher at Kennemer in 2007 and added: “It was my first year and a great week but it definitely gave me the taste for more and to win it now I can’t believe it yet. I think tonight it will hit me.”
Jimenez, who was seeking his 13th victory since turning 40, said: “Joost played very well and there had to be only one winner. The Dutch Open deserved the winner.
“Itwas a tough day in the wind and not easy for anyone. I was happy to be in contention once more.”
Three-time champion Simon Dyson held a share of the lead early in the final round after making three birdies in his first four holes but saw his chances of a fourth win come to an end with a double-bogey on the 15th.
He had to settle for a share of third place on nine under par alongside fellow Englishman Ross Fisher, Ireland’s Damien McGrane and France’s Gregory Havret.