Michael Hollick and Murray Gilson from Durban Country Club in South Africa emerge as the 2011 World Club Championship winners
May 20, 2011
Jeju, South Korea – Durban Country Club of South Africa, represented by Michael Hollick and Murray Gilson, became the 2011 World Club Championship winners on Friday, May 20, 2011 when they defeated Patrick McCrudden and Anthony Murphy of Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland at The Club at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island in South Korea. The exciting Match Play Final score was a decisive 6/4.
Durban shot a birdie on the first hole to go 1 up and Portrush kept them at bay for several holes before Hollick and Gilson made their move to take an early victory by 4 up.
Hollick and Gilson traveled 24 hours and close to 10,000 miles making four connections to arrive at Nine Bridges. They joined 19 other teams from around the world for a week of competitive play and camaraderie. The World Club Championship invites the club champion and a partner from clubs who are listed on the 2009 GOLF Magazine Top 100 Courses in the World. This year, there were 20 teams from 15 countries, and the competition was pressure filled as all players must have a handicap of 3 or better but many were scratch or better.
For third place in Match Play, Kelly Miller and David Abell of Seminole Golf Club in Florida, USA won 1 up on the 18th hole over the Defending Champion Los Angeles Country Club, USA represented by Jerry Chang and John McClure.
John Finnigan and Paul Moultrie of Royal Troon Golf Club from Scotland with a score of 68 won the Chairman's Division in stroke play in the loser's bracket.
First, second and third place teams in Match Play and the winner of the Chairman's Division earn an automatic invitation for the next World Club Championship. Today it was announced that the 2012 WCC will be held at Diamante Golf Club located in Cabo San Lucas at the tip of Baja Mexico.
The 9 hour day of golf culminated in a major celebration. Durban Country Club was presented the Jay Lee Trophy at the Closing Ceremonies and later congratulated by all at the Official Closing Dinner in the Pagoda at Nine Bridges. Pungmulpae (Korean traditional music and dance for festival) entertained the players and VIP guests from around the world. Caddies and players exchanged gifts and sad farewells and Auld Langsyne was sung to formally close the 8th World Club Championship.
The World Club Championship will be aired for 1½ hours on the Golf Channel in the fall of 2011.
