17 Sep 2007 at 20:06 | Published by: JJM | Views: 9735 | News search

Jouni Valkjärvi of Finland took his second British Open title, as he defeated Swedish Mattias Ståhl by two points in the thrilling duel for gold. Jouni took the lead right from the first round, but Mattias made a new course record 31 in the third round, and eventually tied the game during the last round. Jouni regained control of the game, however, and managed to create a lead of two points during the very last lanes of the competition.

British Open is one of the most notable Open System minigolf competitions in the world, frequently visited by top-class players from Scandinavia and central Europe — in the past years including European Champion Heinz Weber (Austria) and bronze medalist Hans Olofsson (Sweden).

Jouni Valkjärvi holds the impressive Finnish record 21 on felt courses (played in a national ranking competition in March 2006), and he routinely challenges international top-class players into a tight battle on Open System courses. Less interested in eternite and beton, however, he has never participated in international championships of the adult class.

The prize for the best female player in British Open went to Olivia Prokopová of Czech Republic — only 12 years of age, but already a “veteran” in British and American competitions on Open System courses. She has been touring the world in minigolf competitions for half of her life.

Top 12 of British Open: 2007 01.    VALKJÄRVI Jouni 02.    STÅHL Mattias 03.    SELJELID Eirik 04.    KJELLSTRÖM Torgny 05.    HEIN Karsten 06.    PROKOPOVÁ Olivia 07.    REHFELD Norbert 08.    DINAU Björn 09.    HARDING Chris 10.    BULLIN Bill 11.    DAVIES Tim 12.    MENDIK Petr 2006 01.    HEIN Karsten 02.    VALKJÄRVI Jouni 03.    DAVIES Tim 04.    OLOFSSON Hans 05.    KJELLSTRÖM Torgny 06.    DINAU Björn 07.    LINDHOLM Julius 08.    ŠPIDRA Marek 09.    HARDING Chris 10.    KELLARD Keith 11.    WÜTRICH Marcus 12.    PARR Peter 2005 01.    VALKJÄRVI Jouni 02.    CASELIN Mirko 03.    RANTALA Toni 04.    KUHN André 05.    DIBERNARDI Antonio 06.    HARDING Chris 07.    McIVER John 08.    CONSONNI Carlo 09.    KELLARD Keith 10.    del BIANCO Marco 11.    SHEPHERD Brad 12.    PARR Peter

244  (34.86)    246  (35.14)    251  (35.86)    254  (36.29)    254  (36.29)    255  (36.43)    255  (36.43)    256  (36.57)    259  (37.00)    261  (37.29)    267  (38.14)    269  (38.43)    235  (33.57)    236  (33.71)    240  (34.29)    243  (34.71)    245  (35.00)    214  (35.67)    217  (36.17)    217  (36.17)    222  (37.00)    228  (38.00)    230  (38.33)    231  (38.50)    167  (33.40)    172  (34.40)    175  (35.00)    177  (35.40)    140  (35.00)    141  (35.25)    145  (36.25)    145  (36.25)    145  (36.25)    146  (36.50)    146  (36.50)    147  (36.75)

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