20 Sep 2010 at 22:41 | Published by: Hans | Views: 10053 | News search

Eirik Seljelid with his winning shot in the 2010 British Open  (Photo by Marion Homer 2010)

BMGA News Release
Supplied by Richard Gottfried

The Planet Hastings Adventure Golf course at Clambers/White Rock Gardens in Hastings, East Sussex played host to the British Minigolf Association Tour on the 18th and 19th September as 56 players from the UK, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Switzerland competed in the 13th Annual BMGA British Open minigolf tournament.

At the top of the rankings Sweden’s Eirik Seljelid lifted the trophy with a seven round total of 229(-23), in second place was Finland’s Jouni Valkjärvi, with London’s Nick Chitty in third place. Michael Smith from Oxford finished in the fourth ‘money’ spot following a play-off victory over Germany’s Karsten Hein and Canterbury’s Marc Chapman, after all three had tied on 236(-16). Nick Chitty’s Bronze Medal spot also bagged him the trophy and prize as the tournament’s top UK player. Chitty has also now moved up to the number one spot of 91 players in the latest BMGA Order of Merit Rankings.

London’s Brad Shepherd won the aces prize for most holes in one during the tournament, with 20 over six rounds. Nick Sandqvist from London won the top novice prize with an excellent performance in his second BMGA Tour competition, beating the challenge of five other rookie players, and achieving 32nd place overall.

Cambridgeshire’s Adam Kelly took the BMGA British Open Junior trophy and became the 2010 BMGA British Junior Champion in the process. Runner-up in both tournaments was Brechin’s Freddie Blackburn-Shaw, with Dudley’s Owen Johnson in third place. The BMGA British Open 2010 trophy presentations were made by Kim Forward, Mayor of Hastings.

All players played four rounds on Saturday, before a ‘cut’ was made to decide the group of players who would play two more rounds on the Sunday. A total of 47 players scored under the 176 shots required over the first four rounds to progress to day two. The top 18 players then took part in the seventh and final ‘Super Round’ to decide the final rankings.

BMGA Chairman Sean Homer said “Thanks to Marion Homer and Emily Gottfried for running such a superb competition and to John McIver and all the team at Clambers Adventure Golf for their hospitality. The BMGA would also like to thank the Mayor of Hastings, Kim Forward, for attending and presenting all the winners with their prizes and medals at the end of the superb two day event.”

In the traditional warm-up to the BMGA British Open 29 players competed in the BMGA Players Championship charity competition on Friday 17th September, played in a Strokeplay, Matchplay, Strokeplay format over three rounds. Peter Emmerson from Brighton took the BMGA Players Championship title with a third round score of 33(-3). John McIver from Hastings was second, with Nick Chitty in third place and London’s Russ Dent in fourth. Peter’s win raised £112.50 for the Children’s Hospital in Brighton.

In the BMGA International Players Championship, also held on Friday, Finland’s Jouni Valkjärvi took the honours in the final round having scored a 32(-4) to clinch the title. Sweden’s Eirik Seljelid was runner-up, with Germany’s Karsten Hein third, and Sweden’s Johan Ahlander fourth. Sixteen international players competed in the event.

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