17 Apr 2013 at 21:03 | Published by: Freebird | Views: 11383 | News search

Adam Kelly - 2013 Masters Champion  (Photo by Marion Homer - Kent Minigolf Club)

On the same day that Adam Scott won a thrilling play-off in Augusta to become the first Australian winner of the famous Masters green jacket, a teenager called Adam was creating his own bit of history by becoming the youngest ever winner of the British Masters minigolf championship.

Adam Kelly, 17, from Cambridge, received the legendary British Minigolf Association (BMGA) tweed jacket from defending champion and British number one Michael Smith after shooting a four-round total of 132 (-12) at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing. He also took the first prize of £60 and the British Masters trophy after beating a strong field of 27 players from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Portugal. Adam Kelly, 17, from Cambridge, received the legendary British Minigolf Association (BMGA) tweed jacket from defending champion and British number one Michael Smith after shooting a four-round total of 132 (-12) at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing. He also took the first prize of £60 and the British Masters trophy after beating a strong field of 27 players from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Portugal.

Kelly, the British junior champion, whose only previous tour victory came at the London Open in 2009, cemented his place as the British number 2 after defeating course owner Peter Emmerson (-9) by three strokes and Smith (-2) by 10 strokes.

"It was a great relief to win my biggest title to date after so many close finishes and such a long time chasing the top players," he said. "I hope this victory will give me a confidence boost going into the major championship season. It was especially pleasing and gave me a great sense of achievement to win at Splash Point, which is one of the most challenging courses in the UK."

Splash Point, which was designed and built in 2010 by BMGA members Peter Emmerson and Anthony Pope, was hosting the British Masters for the second time. The 18-hole course is situated in Denton Gardens, beside the seafront in Worthing, and players were treated to a beautifully sunny spring day on the south coast.

Chris Smith, from Oxford, won the Category 2 title with a score of 164 (+20) and Emily Gottfried, from Luton, won the Category 3 title in a play-off against Paul Godding from South Wales after finishing on 174 (+30). Sean Homer won the aces prize after a play-off against Nuno Cunha of Vizelgolfe Club in Portugal, with both players scoring 18 holes-in-one across the four rounds.

The prizes were given out by Councillor Bob Smytherman, Deputy Mayor of Worthing, and Councillor Norah Fisher, Deputy Mayoress. The Deputy Mayor congratulated all of the winners and thanked all of the players for coming to ‘sunny Worthing’ to take part in the competition.

The event also saw the second Hole-In-One Charity challenge of the season take place between rounds 3 and 4. This was open to all (tournament competitors and the general public alike) and cost just £1 per entry (£2 for category 1 players). Half of the entry fees carry forward to the Players Championship charity fund (taking place in September, the day before the British Open) and the remainder were available to be won in the challenge. With 30 entrants on the day, each had 1 shot at the designated course hole (hole 16) with any players getting a hole-in-one sharing the prize pot. After another tense, exciting and very noisy challenge, five players - Marion Homer, Brenda Smith, Kate Kelly, Adam Kelly and Mark Wood - shared the prize pot by all aceing the hole in the shootout.

BMGA Chairman Sean Homer said “This was a great event and Adam produced a real masterclass in the final round to take the title and make BMGA history in the process. I would like to thank all who took part, as well as Anthony and Peter for their hospitality, Marion Homer and John McIver for their superb Tournament organising and to the Deputy Mayor Councillor Bob Smytherman and the Deputy Mayoress Councillor Norah Fisher for their support at the prize ceremony."

The next event on the BMGA tour is the BMGA British Championships at Wroxham Barns in Norfolk across the weekend of 11/12 May

The British Minigolf Association (BMGA) is the governing body for Minigolf Sport, including Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf. Formed in 1998 the BMGA organises Minigolf competitions for its members across the UK.

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