BMGA BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH OPEN 2009

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, 5 September 2009

System: 12 hole adventure golf

Richard Gottfried wins the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament

Luton’s Richard Gottfried won his third minigolf tournament of the season at the 2009 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open, held at the 12-hole Adventure Golf course at Flagstaff Gardens, on Saturday evening (5th September). BMGA members were invited to compete in the second Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament as part of the 2009 Blackpool Illuminations weekend.

In the field of eight players, which included five Great Britain Internationals, Richard won the three round 36-hole competition with scores of 24 (par), 26 (+2) and 31 (+7) for a total of 81 (+9), eight shots ahead of Newcastle’s John Moore in second-place (for the second year running), and 17 shots ahead of Guildford’s Steve Gow in third.

Richard’s first round score of 24 (par) set a new BMGA and all-time Course Record, beating Emily Gottfried’s old BMGA record by three shots, and the all-time record held by Blackpool’s Keith Allen by two shots.

Richard said “I am very pleased to have won the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open, and by quite a margin. My first round of 24 was probably the best round of minigolf I have ever played and that set the pace for the rest of my tournament. Heading into round three I had a 13 stroke lead and that is an excellent position to be in.”

“It’s really good to have picked up my third win of the season, and to win with such a low score and get a course record is a great achievement too. The Pleasure Beach is a fantastic tournament venue and the event had a great atmosphere with the Illuminations celebrations. It’ll be great to return to defend my title next year.”

Owen Johnson from Birmingham collected the top junior player prize with his score of 109 (+37) which earned him sixth place overall. Owen’s father Paul Johnson had another good tournament with a fourth place finish to add to two third-place finishes earlier this season.

The BMGA Tour next heads to Margate, Kent for the 2009 BMGA British Open on 19th & 20th September.

Words: Squire