South Africa’’s Trevor Immelman has won The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month Award for January. Immelman will receive The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month Trophy from Waterford Crystal and a cheque for £1000 to be donated to a charity of his choice.
Two superb shots played by Immelman during the South African Airways Open, which he won after a sudden-death play-off, were included in the list of three nominations selected by a judging panel comprising representatives of The European Tour and the golfing media.
The winning shot was judged to be the 180 yard wedge Immelman played from the rough at the last hole in regulation play at Erinvale Golf Club, resulting in a birdie to force a play-off with defending champion Tim Clark.
In second place was the nine iron from 140 yards executed by Lian-Wei Zhang, who holed the resultant three foot birdie putt to win the Caltex Masters, presented by Carlsberg, Singapore 2003, by one shot from Ernie Els, earning him recognition as the first Chinese winner on The European Tour International Schedule.
Third place went to Immelman, who won the play-off with Clark after hitting a nine iron 169 yards to less than a foot for a birdie three in the South African Airways Open.
Immelman said: “I totally agree with the panel in their choice of shot from my two. The one in regular play may not have involved as much pressure as the one in the play-off, but it was a much more difficult shot. I knew I would get a flyer from the rough and everything had to work perfectly for me. It was fantastic that it did.”
He added: “It is the first time I’’ve ever won any award like this and having two shots in the top three maybe proves I’’ve hit quite a few good iron shots this year! It’’s great to be recognised and rewarded for it by The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month Award.”
The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month Award, in association with The European Tour, Sky Sports and Golf Weekly, is presented to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the most outstanding played during each calendar month on The European Tour International Schedule. In December 2003, the winning shots from each month will be entered towards The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Year Award.
Immelman is the second monthly winner, following Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who won the November/December Award.
