Iceland come in from the cold

with DOY win by Gudmundur

FROM THE DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS TROPHY WEBSITE
In a nail-biter of a finish, Gudmundur Kristjansson of Iceland won The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy by a shot from Ireland’s Dermot McElroy. Two behind McElroy after 13 holes, Kristjansson drew level at the long 14th and went ahead with a resounding birdie at the 16th at Royal St George's Golf Club, Kent.

In the end, he added a 72 to earlier rounds of 75 and 71 for a 218 tally which was no mean feat in the wind-tossed conditions.

“It’s far and away the best result I’ve ever had,” said the winner, who received his trophy from The Duke of York, who once played over Kristjansson’s home course in Reykjavic.

It is also a big deal for Iceland and one which mirrors the game’s explosion. As recently as 1990, the country had no more than 1,000 golfers. Today, there are as many as 17,000 “registered” players, while roughly 25% of the population say they play the game at least twice a year.

Kristjansson, who had been two ahead after eight holes, had a rough-strewn seven at the ninth to lose his lead. But he stayed patient until the 14th where McElroy was the one to amass a double bogey. Out of bounds off the tee, the Irish Boys’ champion dispatched what was his fourth shot into rough on the left and his fifth to the back of the green.

Everything happened at the short 16th. Leona Maguire, the third member of the leading group, was caught up in the bunker which arguably cost Thomas Bjorn the 2003 Open championship. She walked from the green with a 5 to drop out of contention at nine over par for the tournament, while Kristjansson holed from nine yards to take the lead at five over. As the putt dropped, so he gave the air a Tiger-like punch.

Nothing changed at the 17th but, when it came to the 18th, the Icelander opened the door for the Irishman when he pushed his drive into the right-hand rough which had claimed so many balls over the week. He chopped out well enough with his wedge and waited to see what McElroy would do with his second.

As it transpired, McElroy left his shot well short of the putting surface and gave the face of his club a recriminatory slap. Kristjansson then proceeded to hit a spanking third to ten feet and, when he holed for the par, the championship was his.

Though nervous on the first tee, Kristjansson had been ice-cool coming down the stretch. “I’ve been in contention in a lot of tournaments in Iceland,” he explained.

He has done a lot to sharpen his game through playing overseas but he will tell you that golf at its best is playing with his friends through those three magic Icelandic weeks in June when the sun barely goes down. “Sometimes we go out at midnight and sometimes afterwards," he explained.

Leona finished in third place with a 74 for nine-over tally of 222, while the afternoon sun stayed in place for long enough for The Duke of York to present the prizes and remind competitors to get their games in shape for the 10th Anniversary Tournament at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake next September.
Leona's twin, Lisa Maguire, also finished with a 74 for 13th place on 229.
Scottish boys' match-play champion Grant Forrest found his form on the last day. His closing round of 71 was one of the best of the day. The Craigielaw teenager finished joint 24th on 235.
LEADING FINAL TOTALSPar 213 (3x71)
218 G Kristjansson (Iceland) 75 71 72.
219 D McElroy (Ireland) 71 77 71.
222 Leona Maguire (Ireland) 73 75 74.
224 M Prihoda (Czech Republic) 76 76 72.
225 R Pugh (Wales) 77 76 72.
Selected totals:
229 Lisa Maguire (Ireland) 75 80 74 (13th).
235 G Forrest (Scotland) 78 86 71 (jt 24th).

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