Taco Proves a Dutch Master

A quite stunning final round saw Taco Remkes of the Netherlands blow the field away at the Scottish Challenge to claim his maiden Challenge Tour title. Remkes’ victory at Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club meant a double delight for the Dutch on Scottish soil, following his compatriot Reiner Saxton’s Amateur Championship triumph at Turnberry just eight days previously. At 23 Remkes is the senior partner, but the man from Amsterdam still showed astonishing maturity to card six birdies on the front nine en route to a round of 65 to finish on 13 under par, five shots clear of his nearest challengers. A winner’s cheque for €35,200 also catapulted Remkes into the top five of the Challenge Tour Rankings in his maiden season, with the top 20 gaining cards on next season’s European Tour International Schedule. Remkes said: “I told myself to stay calm and relax, because it’s just another 18 holes of golf. Starting with three birdies was fantastic – every putt seemed to drop in the hole! On the back nine the wind got up a little bit, but I knew pars would be good enough to win. It’s a great feeling to win in my first season on the Challenge Tour. “It’s been a good couple of weeks for Dutch players in Scotland. I know Reiner Saxton very well, because we belong to the same golf club in Amsterdam. I was really pleased for him, because he gets to play the Masters – what more can you want? I don’t know why it is that Dutch players are doing so well in Scotland, but we certainly enjoy the place!” England’s Seve Benson and overnight leader Jeppe Huldahl finished in a tie for second on eight under par. Benson’s cheque for €19,800 saw the man from Surrey climb to the top of the Challenge Tour Rankings.