| World final links test for Norwegian duo |
| Friday, 30 March 2007 | |
 A former Norwegian ice hockey star has swapped the puck for the putter to good effect – by winning a place in the world final of this year’s International Pairs golf tournament.Geir Leknes and playing partner Tommy Nilsen beat off the strong challenge of 45 rival teams to clinch glory in the Norwegian national final at Vestfold Golf Club. The battling duo, who were representing Drobak Golf Club and who also reached their national final in 2005, clinched their place in the 2007 International Pairs world final in Scotland by just one shot. Now 15-handicapper Leknes, who used to ply his trade on the ice for Trondheim in his native Norway, and Nilsen, who plays off six, will represent their country at Fairmont St Andrews in July. And they may just have the edge on many of their rivals on the tough but spectacular links courses at Fairmont St Andrews – with both players having been regular visitors to Scottish golf courses over the past decade. Leknes, 38, said: “To represent Norway in a tournament like this is a big honour for us, especially at the golfing Mecca of St Andrews. We will prepare well and do our best, and it will be fun to meet the other world final participants and play against them on such nice golf courses as the Devlin and Torrance courses at Fairmont St Andrews.”
Forty-year-old Nilsen, who has played in the Norwegian final of the International Pairs four times, and Leknes edged out three rival pairs by the narrowest of margins to secure their place in the world final of the global fourball betterball format competition, which is run in association with VisitScotland.
Leknes, who is a police officer in Oslo, added: “This must be the best thing that could happen to an amateur golfer. To qualify through three tough tournament rounds and beat 1,500 teams is a big feat for us. We’re proud to be representing Norway in the world final of the International Pairs in Scotland in July.”
The International Pairs has been backed by VisitScotland for the last five years – and the national Scottish tourist body has committed to be the tournament’s main sponsor until at least 2008. |