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The 27-year-old Challenge Tour champion of 2001 proved he has
come of age among the elite of European golf when he won a six
man play-off to claim the Dunhill Championship at Houghton Golf
Club.
Foster’s 40-foot eagle putt on the second extra hole proved
decisive in beating former Open champion Paul Lawrie, previous
week’s winner Trevor Immelman, Anders Hansen, Doug McGuigan
and Bradford Vaughan. It was only the second time in Tour history
that six players have taken part in sudden death.
“There is a time in every player’s career when it is
defined by one
accomplishment and for Mark that putt may well be it,” said
ISM chief Chubby Chandler.
“Mark had already proved on the Challenge Tour that he had
what it takes to win and he has now moved up to the next level.
Just how much further he progresses up the ladder to greatness
is entirely up to him because he has all the qualities necessary
to go all the way”.
Foster’s triumph earned generous acclaim elsewhere including
plaudits from those he defeated. “Only one person can win
and Mark deserved it. Every credit to him,” said Carnoustie
hero Lawrie while Immelman added: “Well done to Mark. It
was a great first win”.
Foster admitted afterwards that he was drained by his week’s
work. “I was wilting a bit near the end, but made sure I
kept going at the second extra hole,” he said.
Now Foster hopes to move on to bigger and better – not least
a chance at qualifying for the Open. “People have said I’m
a slow learner, but I’ve finally caught the boat”.
That boat will stop at Royal St.George’s next July if he
can finish in the top two of the South African Order of Merit,
which has two more weeks before completion. Top three also gain
entry to the American Express WGC event.
Foster, who collected approximately £80,000 for his week’s
work, has elected to stay in South Africa in a bid to seal his
exemptions. The play-off six all finished at 15 under par, two
ahead of defending champion Justin Rose and ISM’s Richard
Sterne while stablemate David Howell continued his encouraging
start to the season with another place inside the top 20.
There was also plenty of encouragement for Lee Westwood before
he flies to America for a week’s work with top coach David
Leadbetter. More birdies and fewer bogeys than usual filled four
cards that were never over par and he finished 29th along with
ISM colleagues Louis Oosthuizen and David Park.
Simon Dyson, David Dixon, Simon Wakefield, Martin Maritz and Ben
Mason all made the cut.
by Martin Hardy on behalf of ISM
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