Scottish team savours success in Bermuda Goodwill Golf Tournament
Members of St Andrews Links Old Course reaped the benefits of arriving on island early after winning their first Bermuda Goodwill Golf Tournament at Belmont Hills Golf Club on Wednesday.
The team from Scotland comprised of Kyle Lum, Richard Keane, Dick Morton and captain Tim Macklaier, won the longest-running pro am in the world after carding a 39 under 173 to finish the 54-hole event three shots clear of nearest rivals Connecticut Golf Club 2.
“It feels fantastic and there’s so many really good teams here,” an elated Lum told The Royal Gazette.
“We were just having fun and all of a sudden the putts started to fall and everyone contributed.”
Lum and his fellow team-mates coped best in the wet and windy conditions.
“We are sort of used to it. From being in Scotland we’re used to harsh, critical, cold weather,” he added.
“We just came out of zero-degree temperatures so coming out here it’s been pretty balmy and pretty comfortable.”
Macklaier said a key factor to the team’s triumph was arriving on island early enough to play practice rounds at each of the three courses, which also includes Port Royal Golf Course and Mid Ocean Club.
“We got the local knowledge, the greens, the course, and so that really helped when we played the tournament,” he added.
Seawatch Golf Club finished third after shooting a 35 under 177.
Port Royal Golf Course 2, comprised of Nick Jones, Oliver Betschart, Damian Palanyandi and Cindy Ratziaff, was the highest local finisher in sixth with a 31 under 181 that earned them gross honours.
Connecticut Golf Club 2’s Peter Ballo captured the professional title and with it $3,000 in prize money after registering 78 stableford points.
“It was good and this is probably the best three-round stretch I have played all season, which was nice relative to taking about three weeks off from golf,” he said.
“I love being down here. Every time I have come this place has gotten nicer to come play. It’s been really special and awesome to do it and there’s a lot of history obviously just with the event itself.”
Westchester Country Club’s Mike Ballo finished second with 68 points and Metropolis Country Club’s Craig Thomas third with 62.
Dwayne Pearman, representing Seawatch Golf Club, was the top local in the professional division, finishing fourth overall with 61 points.
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