Ernie Els and Robert-Jan Derksen have won Asprey Golfer of the Month Awards for February and March respectively following superb victories on The 2003 European Tour International Schedule.
Els, winner of the 2002 Open Golf Championship, won the Johnnie Walker Classic at Lake Karrinyup with scores of 64-65-64 and 66 for a 29 under par total of 259 – ten ahead of Stephen Leaney and André Stolz. Els led from start to finish and his 29 under par score was the lowest winning aggregate to par recorded on The European Tour.
Els was nominated Asprey Golfer of the Month for February by a panel from the Association of Golf Writers, Television and Radio ahead of Arjun Atwal (Carlsberg Malaysian Open) and Paul Casey (ANZ Championship), both of whom won on The European Tour International Schedule, and Australians Peter Lonard and Adam Scott who both reached the semi finals of the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play.
Derksen was named the Asprey Golfer of the Month for March following his victory in the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club. He followed rounds of 67-72-67 by including five birdies and an eagle in a closing 65 for a 17 under par total of 271 – finishing one ahead of Els. The 29 year old from the Netherlands, who graduated from The European Tour Qualifying School Finals in November 2002, came from three shots behind to complete his maiden win on The European Tour International Schedule.
South Africa’’s Darren Fichardt, who won the Qatar Masters, and Welshman Bradley Dredge, winner of the Madeira Island Open, were also considered by the Asprey Golfer of the Month Panel in addition to Ireland’’s Padraig Harrington, who finished joint second in The Players Championship at Sawgrass.
The Asprey Golfer of the Month Award is presented to a European Tour Member each month from January to November for his performance on The European Tour International Schedule and in world wide competition. Els was also named Asprey Golfer of the Month for January. At the end of the season the Panel will select the Asprey Golfer of the Year.
