DUTCH OPEN 2012
John Walsh of the Collins club in Cork, Ireland emerged victorious at Molenhoek. Walsh, who won the Irish Strokeplay championship in 1997 and the Irish Matchplay 5 years later, fired a fine final round of 48 for a 15 under par aggregate of 147. That was good for a win by two shots over fellow Irishman Ray Murphy, the 2004 and 2011 Dutch Open winner, who closed with a 49. Two-time Irish Open champion and former Irish Matchplay title holder Damien Fleming placed third on on 150 after a final round of 51. Best Dutchman was Mervin Slaats, just ahead of Patrick Luning. Esther de Schiffart of Holland carded a final 18 of 52 to win the Ladies Open on 162, that's level par. Esther finished two shots clear of first round leader Herma Kleinlugtenbeld. As well as a 1-2-3 in the main event. the Irish were celebrating a senior victory. Jim Ahern, a clubmate of John Walsh's, scored 169 for the three rounds to beat Andorran Pepe Garcia by four.
Final scores
Damien Fleming remained tied for the 36 hole lead. However, the 2011 Irish Matchplay champion had now been joined by former two time Irish champion John Walsh. Walsh added a 49 to his opening round of 50 to be nine under par on 99 heading into Sunday's final round. Damien Fleming shot a 52 second round for his 99. Winner in 2004 and 2011, Ray Murphy remained poised on 100 despite a relatively disappointing second round of 53. Best Dutch player was Patrick Luning on 104. Herma Kleinlugtenbeld disimproved ten shots with a 60 second round and Herma was tied on 110 after 36 holes with fellow Dutch player Esther de Schiffart.
36 hole scores
Former Irish Matchplay champions Ray Murphy (Templebreedy) and Damien Fleming (Deerpark) were tied for the first round lead at the Dutch Open in Molenhoek. Fleming (a two time winner of the Irish International Open) and Murphy (twice previously champion in Holland) fired matching seven under par 47s to lead by three at that stage. Next best were Patrick Luning (Netherlands), twice previously runner-up at the Dutch Open; John Walsh (Ireland) and the best lady Herma Kleinlugtenbeld (Netherlands).
Ireland's John Walsh won the warm-up Friday Matchplay event on the eve of the Dutch Open at Molenhoek. The Collins player defeated Bram Artz in the final.
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