Super Seve Seals Second Major Success
The weekend of Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of July saw the BMGA tour arrive at Four Ashes, Dorridge for the second major of the year, the 2023 British Open.
The 26th edition of the Open proved to be an exciting contest with 3 players level at the top after 6 rounds of play. After a nail biting playoff, it was Seve Kukielka who triumphed over Michael Smith and Ed Pope to claim his second major title after aceing the 4th hole.
Seve reflecting after his win: “An amazing weekend and a great tournament that has to be one of the closest fought Opens in years! There were still 5 or 6 players in with a shout going into the last round and I’m thrilled to have won after a tense ending.
Huge credit to all the players. Conditions were difficult on the first day with the rain making it tough to find aces. I was fortunate to pull out two incredible rounds of 31 which is essentially what won me the tournament. My second day’s play was poor which allowed others back in.
Thanks to Martyn, Ed, and Scott for a superb well run event and also thanks to everyone that attended, as well as the course owners who made us feel welcome all weekend.
In the overall standings:
Foxes Minigolf captain James Shaw finished in fifth place with a six-round total of 207 (-9) winning £35.
Newly crowned Players Champion Simon Brown (Gloucester Aces) finished in fourth place with a total of 206 (-10) winning £45.
Ed Pope (Foxes Minigolf) finished in third place winning £60 and the Bronze medal with a total of 205 (-11). Ed, unfortunately bogeyed hole 3 in the 3-way playoff for the title.
Michael Smith (Gloucester Aces) the 8-time Open Champion finished second winning £80 and the silver Medal with a total of 205 (-11). Michael was the only player in the competition to shoot under par in all six rounds.
Seve Kukielka (Gloucester Aces) also finished on 205 (-11) and won on the 4th extra playoff hole aceing it to win the 2023 British Open. He won £120, the Gold Medal and a glass trophy to keep.
The top five (l-r Simon Brown, Michael Smith, Seve Kukielka, Ed Pope and James Shaw)
There were a variety of prizes available throughout the weekend and the prize winners were as follows:
Andy Wilde of Strokes Minigolf Club had the most aces outside the top five with 17 aces across the six rounds. He won free entry to a one-day BMGA event of his choice within the next year.
In the Category 3&4 competition
Shaun Stimpson of the Gloucester Aces Minigolf Club took the Gold medal and £30 with a total of 216 (Level Par) which included a round of 33. Thanet Silverbacks James Hollinrake took the silver medal with a total of 217 (+1) which included four under-par rounds. Finally, Steve Sturdy of Gemini Golf Club took the bronze medal with a total of 219 (+3) which included an impressive round of 32.
In the Category 2 competition-
Chris Smith of the Gloucester Aces took the Gold Medal and £30 with a six-round total of 212 (-4), including a best round of 33. Returning James Trubridge took the silver medal with a total of 217 (+1) which included 11 aces. He beat the consistent James Teubler of the Thanet Silverbacks in a playoff who took Bronze, with the same total of 217 (+1).
Full tournament results can be found at http://bmga.online/results/2023/BO2023/result.htm?
More pictures of the event can be found on our Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/BMGAMinigolf/
The Saturday morning also saw the traditional British Open curtain raiser, the 2023 Players Championship take place. Simon Brown took the Players Championship beating Matt Dodd, Seve Kukielka and David Hartley in the Final
Players Champion Simon Brown