Wil Besseling
Encyclopedia
Wil Besseling is a Dutch
professional golf
er.
Besseling was born in Utrecht
. He won the Dutch Amateur Match Play Championship in 2001, just two years after taking up the sport. The highlight of his amateur career came in 2006, when he won the Eisenhower Trophy
in partnership with Joost Luiten
and Tim Sluiter, and also finished with the lowest individual score.
After turning professional
at the end of 2006, Besseling played on the EPD Tour
, one of the developmental golf tours
based in Europe, during 2007. He finished 5th on the 2007 Order of Merit, having been in the top 20 in all but two events, with seven top tens and one victory.
At the end of the year, Besseling attempted to gain his card on the European Tour
via the qualifying school
. He was unsuccessful, and had to settle playing on the second tier Challenge Tour
in 2008. He won his first title on that tour at the second tournament of the season, the Club Colombia Masters, when he was a runaway winner, finishing seven strokes clear of the field. He also collected three runners-up prizes during the year, and ended the season in 15th place on the money list to graduate directly to the European Tour for 2009.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er.
Besseling was born in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
. He won the Dutch Amateur Match Play Championship in 2001, just two years after taking up the sport. The highlight of his amateur career came in 2006, when he won the Eisenhower Trophy
Eisenhower Trophy
The Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
in partnership with Joost Luiten
Joost Luiten
Willibrordus Adrianus Maria "Joost" Luiten is a Dutch professional golfer.- Biography :Luiten was born in Bleiswijk. He is currently a member of the European Tour. After a failed bid for a tour card on the Qualifying School he started his professional career on the EPD Tour where he claimed the...
and Tim Sluiter, and also finished with the lowest individual score.
After turning professional
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
at the end of 2006, Besseling played on the EPD Tour
EPD Tour
The EPD Tour is a developmental professional golf tour based in Germany. It is a third level tour, the highest level of men's golf in Europe being the European Tour, and the second level being the Challenge Tour...
, one of the developmental golf tours
Professional golf tours
Professional golf tours are the means by which otherwise unconnected professional golf tournaments are organised into a regular schedule. There are separate tours for men and women, with each tour being based in a specific geographical region, although some of their tournaments may be held in other...
based in Europe, during 2007. He finished 5th on the 2007 Order of Merit, having been in the top 20 in all but two events, with seven top tens and one victory.
At the end of the year, Besseling attempted to gain his card on the European Tour
PGA European Tour
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
via the qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
. He was unsuccessful, and had to settle playing on the second tier Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
in 2008. He won his first title on that tour at the second tournament of the season, the Club Colombia Masters, when he was a runaway winner, finishing seven strokes clear of the field. He also collected three runners-up prizes during the year, and ended the season in 15th place on the money list to graduate directly to the European Tour for 2009.
Challenge Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory |
Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 Apr 2008 2008 Challenge Tour The 2008 Challenge Tour was a series of golf tournaments known as the Challenge Tour, the official development tour run by the PGA European Tour... |
Il Club Colombia Masters Club Colombia Masters The Club Colombia Masters was a golf tournament co-sanctioned by the European Challenge Tour and the Tour de las Américas and was first played in 2007. The event was held at the Country Club de Bogotá, in Bogotá, Colombia. The tournament was organized by the Corporacion Internacional de Golf,... |
7 strokes |  Antti AhokasAntti Ahokas Antti Juhani Ahokas is a Finnish professional golfer.Ahokas was born in Lappeenranta. After winning the Finnish Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 2005, he moved to the United States to attend the University of Minnesota, but left after just three months to return to Europe and further his... ,  Mark F. Haastrup |
Other wins (2)
- 2007 Real de Faula Golf Classic (EPD Tour)
- 2008 Hi5 Pro Tour Al Torreal (Hi5 Pro Tour)
Team appearances
Amateur- Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
(representing the Netherlands): 2006 (team winners and individual winner) - St Andrews TrophySt Andrews TrophyThe St Andrews Trophy is a biennial men's team golf tournament contested between teams of amateur golfers representing Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe. It takes its name from St Andrews in Scotland, which is colloquially known as the "Home of Golf". The competition was founded in...
(representing Continental Europe): 2006
External links
- Wil Besseling – profile on the Golfteam Holland site (in Dutch)