A fourth international Open success for Esther de Schiffart

2011, 2012 and 2014 Dutch open winner Esther de Schiffart was recently crowned 2015 Catalan Open champion at Lleida. We felt that the key round must have been a second 18 51 at Lleida. Esther disagrees. “I think the key round was the last round. The pitching was actually very good during the first and the second rounds. During the first round I struggled a lot with my putts but the second round was much better.”

Esther will treasure some vivid memories of her recent visit to Catalonia. “I played the last round with Marilyn and I was very excited to play with her. Excitement was at fever pitch. “Most of the times I’m a little nervous, but this time …… I was really nervous and shaking because I realised I could win for the first time abroad…..I made a few mistakes that round, but overall my pitching and putting was alright.”

Esther has since been active on the Dutch circuit. We asked for some details of the Dutch Foursomes competition. “This year, for the first time in the Netherlands, we had an official National Pairs Competition. It was 18 holes fourball, 18 holes foursome and 18 holes greensome. It was held at our course Papendal and my friends Bas Heussen & Maurits Rangkouw (both from Papendal) won the competition with -20,” smiles Esther. Her own form held up as well “I played with my friend Suzanne Bosch, also the owner of Pitch & Putt Golf Papendal, and we played very well that day; overall -12 and a top 10 finish.”

We wondered about the beautifully named Open Fries Scramble?
“This is a competition that we play every year on the first Sunday in May. It is played at the Leeuwarden course and is one of the nicest tournaments to play. It is a three round Texas Scramble (different formats).”

Esther confirmed our speculation that the Dutch Putt and Putt community must be very excited the about the 2015 European Strokeplay. “From what I hear they are very excited. I am for sure. It is special to play that kind of tournament in your own country.”

Esther was positively thrilled to confirm that she plans to play in this great championship. “Yes I do! The NPPB told me a week ago that I am allowed to play”

Esther already knows the Orvelte course. “Orvelte has held 2 Dutch Opens, so I have played the course a few times. And this year, we play about once a month at the course with the Dutch Selection”.

Does Esther plan to play in Andorra? “No, unfortunately not. That is always in our vacation time. But maybe we will combine the vacation and the Andorra Open some time…”

One more international open win and Esther will overtake Tracey McGrath as the third most successful player in international open history. How important would that be?
“I did not even know that. It is nice to know, but not that important for me. I will always try to play my best Pitch and Putt and have fun.”

Not surprisingly, Esther loved Lleida course. “I think the course is very nice. We played there a few years ago when we were on a vacation in Spain. To pitch the balls on the green is not too difficult there, but the greens are very tricky to read.”