Roy Vandersluis has finally won a Gold Medal at his own record-breaking ninth Maccabiah.
Roy Vandersluis has finally won a Gold Medal at his own record-breaking ninth Maccabiah.
The Australian team won Gold in the Masters Golf tournament with Vandersluis also taking Silver for second best personal score. But for Australian Delegation flag-bearer Vandersluis, it was the round of his life. He described it to Hayom.
“After nine holes, I was still six strokes behind South Africa Greg Smith. He pulled another one ahead but it was back to six as we stepped onto the 13th tee. I shot a birdie to his par…5 behind. On the 14th, it was par for me and double bogey for him. 3 behind. On the 15th, another birdie for me and a bogey for Greg…1 behind. We both shot a par on the 16th. The 17th got me a par to his bogey . Level at the 18th tee! But I hit trouble and shot a double bogey giving him the individual gold by two strokes. But it was Gold for the team…and I am bursting with joy. The greatest round of my life.”
Vandersluis’s final round score of 72 was the top round in the entire tournament. He shot an aggregate of 302 to Smith’s 300.
In 1989, Vandersluis was denied Gold when his opponent sunk a 50-foot putt on the last green.
A delighted Vandersluis told Hayom: “Winning a Gold Medal at the Maccabiah will remain with me as one of the great highlights of my life. I congratulate the whole Aussie team for a superb effort.”
The drama was no less in the Teams event. Australia went into the final round 12 shots behind South Africa, 5 shots behind Israel and 4 behind the USA. The teams situation changed wildly over the final 18 with Australia scoring the Gold and the USA taking out Silver over South Africa’s Bronze.
Keith Robertson, a member of the Gold-winning team took out the Bronze for the third best personal tally. The team’s medal is the first Gold for Australia at the 18th Maccabiah and will be presented to members Roy Vandersluis, Keith Robertson, Alan Jankelowitz, Ian Sandler, Jeffrey Rubenstein and Bart Doff at the Caeserea Golf Club on Wednesday.
Keith Robertson, another member of the Gold-winning team took out the Bronze for the personal event.
A video interview with Vandersluis made the day before the winning final round is featured below.