STELLENBOSCH, South Africa (CP) - It took a miraculous finish to keep Canada from winning its second ever world team amateur golf championship.
Dutch golfer Joost Luiten played the final five holes in 6-under par on Sunday to singlehandedly lift the Netherlands to a two-stroke victory over the Canadian team of Richard Scott, James Love and Andrew Parr.
Canada finished alone in second for its best finish at the event since winning in 1986.
"We didn't lose it," said Canadian non-playing captain Doug Roxburgh. "The Netherlands won it. They made the birdies coming home."
Scott, from Kingsville, Ont., shot a final-round 68 while Calgary native Love had a 69 to vault Canada into the lead before the Netherlands pulled it out late. Parr, from London, Ont., carded a 71 on Sunday that didn't count towards the team's total.
The previous best finish for the Dutch team at the event was a tie for eighth in 1992 and 1994. They owe the victory to Luiten's incredible finish.
"His nickname is Pyromaniac and he went on fire," Dutch coach Chris van der Velde said of Luiten.
All three Canadian golfers are expected to turn professional in the near future.
The 1986 victory in Argentina is the only one Canada has registered at the event, which is akin to a world championship in other sports.
It had its best chance in the 20 years since to claim the country's second Eisenhower Trophy this week. The Canadians led after the first and second rounds and trailed by two shots heading into the final day.
Sparked once again by the three-time Canadian Amateur champion Scott, Canada quickly jumped into the lead Sunday and held it for most of the day. The Canadians led by as many as three shots during the final nine-hole stretch.
That is until Luiten want on an unconscious run. He birdied the par-5 14th before holing his second shot from 93 yards on the next hole for an unlikley eagle.
"It just happened," said Luiten. "After 15, I knew I was in the zone."
The Dutch golfer, who made just seven total birdies in the first three rounds, then finished with three more birdies to give his team the win. He shot a 5-under 67 on Sunday.
The Netherlands finished the week at 22-under 554 and were followed by Canada at 556 and the three-time defending champion United States at 557.
