15 Sep 2009 at 15:17 | Published by:  | Views: 8297 | News search

During last weekend one of the most prestigious Italian international tournaments has been played in Novi Ligure miniaturegolf course.

116 players from 18 different clubs and 2 countries took part in the 5th Edition of "INFINITE Cup" - International Trophy Città di Novi Ligure. All participants had to play 3 rounds plus one more final round for the best 50% of each category with more than 7 players.

Tournament started at 7.30 am with perfect weather conditions that allowed some really good results.
4x 18 -rounds have been played during the tournament (2x Paolo Porta, Claudio Santopietro and Lorenzo Ciompi), and also 7x 19 -rounds.

The elìte men category was dominated by Paolo Porta (MGC Novi Ligure) , just back from the 4th place at World Championships in Odense and still in top form on the home course. Paolo got a total score of 77 strokes ( 21 - 18 - 20 - 18 ), 6 strokes better than Claudio Santopietro (GSP Cusano) which ended with 83 total strokes. Luca Picciali (MC I Basilischi) and Alberto Pirovano (MC Monza) tied for 3rd place with 85 total strokes and after a playoff ended at lane 8 Luca managed to reach the podium.
It was the first time that a player scored 2x 18 rounds in the same tournament on Novi Ligure course. Paolo setted also the new course record on 3 rounds (56 strokes) but couldn't manage to get the 4 rounds record, which is still owned by Lorenzo Ciompi with 76 strokes.
Paolo wins the INFINITE Cup trophy for the 3rd year in a row.

Also the youth category showed some great minigolf: the battle for the victory was a Follonica matter, with Lorenzo Ciompi that started really well in the first 2 rounds with 20 and 18 strokes but couldn't stop Lorenzo Bellucci's comeback in the last two rounds (with 21 and 19 strokes. At the end, the victory went to Lorenzo Bellucci with a total score of 85 strokes, just one better than Lorenzo Ciompi, 86. 3rd place for Lorenzo Levis (GSP Vergiate), recently 4th at Youth European Championships in Waldshut, which ended with 96 total strokes.

The elìte ladies event was won by the actual Italian champion Anna Bandera (MC Monza with 87 total strokes, 4 better than Anna Catanzaro (MMC Paderno), 91 and 5 better than Sara Marchiani (GSP Cusano) , 92 .

The victory in the senior men event went to Pierluigi Marchiani (GSP Cusano) with 88 strokes, one better than Luigi Denari (MMC Paderno) that got a 2nd place with 89 strokes. Pierluigi wins the senior men event for the 4th consecutive year here in Novi Ligure

The schoolboys category was won by home youngster Emanuele Prestinari , that got a total score of 94 strokes, 5 better than Daniele La Rocca (MMC Paderno) , 99.

A foreign victory came in the senior ladies event, where the best player was the Austrian Elisabeth Schöller (BAC Baden) that got a total score of 107 strokes.

The best foreign player of the tournament was Manfred Schöller (BAC Baden) with a total score of 98 strokes.

Quite a surprise in the team event. MGC Novi Ligure won all the previous 4 editions of the tournament, but this time could reach only 2nd place behind GSP Cusano (team formed by Claudio Santopietro, Pierluigi Marchiani, Sara Marchiani, Rinaldo Foini) which got a narrow victory with a total score of 264 strokes, 2 better than the home team formed by Emanuele Prestinari, Gioacchino Ricchiuto, Paolo Porta, Piero Porta that ended with 266 strokes. MMC Paderno and ASDMC Follonica tied in 3rd place with 274 strokes but after a playoff the 3rd place went to MMC Paderno.

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