The great Danish Deaf golfer Hans Elgaard played a match against Steen Tinning, the professional golfer / former European tour, at the Royal Golf Club – Copenhagen.  Tinning plans to make a comeback on the senior tour later in 2012.

All other Deaf Danish players played well, but all lost their matches against players of Team Tinning, except for Elgaard, who played all-square against Tinning.

Tinning played very well at the first three holes.  Elgaard was not ready that he was nervous. Elgaard was 3 down, and then he played very good golf, and again was all-square at hole 12. After hole 15, Elgaard was 2 up, but Tinning pulled up and won the hole 16 with a birdie. Before the hole 17, Elgaard was 1 up.

Hole 17 is the course hcp index 1, which is a very difficult hole. Elgaard was in
trouble as his ball landed in the bunker; therefore, Tinning could hit his ball onto the
green to win the hole, and the match was all-square again. By the hole 18, it was a showdown between the elite golfers.

Many spectators came anxiously to the 18th tee.  Tinning was under pressure but fully concentrated, and hit the ball perfectly all the way to the green.  Elgaard, playing very well after a difficult start, knew that he had a chance for an all-square match.   He had a brief chat with caddy, they agreed to switch his irons, which was a great choice.   Elgaard hit the ball onto the green, a little closer to the hole than Tinning’s ball.

About 80 spectators were at the hole 18 to witness the final part of the match.  Tinning putted first and his ball came to about 20 cm from the hole.  The pressure was even greater for Elgaard.  It was make or break!   Elgaard looked closely at the green to figure out the line of putting, and he managed to putt the ball the way to the hole, stopped at only 15 cm from the hole.   At the end, the match ended up all-square.

Tinning and Elgaard wished each other congratulations. Spectators were very excited and enjoyed the fantastic experience.

After the match, the spectators and golfers had their lunch at the Royal Golf Club restaurant, and talked a lot about the matches.   Joachim Kroyer, the leader of the golf committee with the Danish Deaf Sport Federation and the organizer of the event, gave out the prizes and gave a speech with thanks to all spectators and supporters.

Steen Tinning said after the match against Hans Elgaard, ‘When Elgaard played right up against me, therefore he belongs to the elite in Denmark, and the level of golf at the deaf are pretty high when you look deaf national team as a team. I hope and believe in the medals at the World Championships in Japan 2012, and also in the future.’

The Danish Deaf Sports Federation wishes to thank all partners / sponsors for their support.