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| Surrey Invitational Tournament Minigolf Champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd with the S.I.T. trophy in Epsom |
On Sunday 16 November 2014 five semi-pro minigolfers competed in the first-ever Surrey Invitational Tournament in a two-round, two-course, 36-hole contest.
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| The Surrey Invitational Tournament competitors at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Woking, from l-r Richard Gottfried, Emily Gottfried, Oliver Florence, Matt Dodd, Helen Dodd |
The competition was played at two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses, with Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking first up to test the players, followed by a visit to the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom.
.jpg "Minigolf Champion Matt Dodd putting during the Surrey Invitational Tournament round at Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking") |
| Matt 'The Don' Dodd in action on one of the two Pirate Ship holes at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Woking |
The champion after 36-holes of play was Matt ‘The Don’ Dodd, the current British number 30, who triumphed with a score of 94(+22), having shot rounds of 48 and 46.
.JPG "Emily Gottfried holing-out a long second putt at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom") |
| Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried holing-out a long second putt at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom |
Speaking after his maiden victory, new Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Dodd said “Thanks to everyone who took part. The competition was strong and it went to the final hole. I look forward to defending my title next year.”
.JPG "Helen 'Hells Bells' Dodd easily handling a water hazard hole at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course in Epsom") |
| Helen 'Hells Bells' Dodd easily handling a water hazard hole at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course in Epsom |
The first stage of the S.I.T. was won by Burpham’s Oliver ‘The Machine’ Florence with a score of 45. However, the British International and veteran of tournaments including the 2010 AMF Asian Open Championships, was unable to compete in the second round due to prior commitments.
.JPG "Oliver Florence putting during the Surrey Invitational Tournament round at Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking") |
| S.I.T. first round winner Oliver 'The Machine' Florence in action on the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking |
The scores and first-round rankings from the Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre were:
1. Oliver Florence – 45 (+9)
2. Matt Dodd – 48 (+12)
3. Richard Gottfried – 50 (+14)
4. Emily Gottfried – 52 (+16)
5. Helen Dodd – 58 (+22)
.JPG "Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament first-round winner Oliver 'The Machine' Florence poses with the S.I.T. cup") |
| Each round winner of the Surrey Invitational Tournament gets to lift the trophy, but only the overall winner gets to keep it for the year. First-round winner Oliver 'The Machine' Florence holds the S.I.T. cup at Hoebridge Golf Centre |
Play moved to the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course where Luton’s ‘Squire’ Richard Gottfried collected the round victory with a score of 45.
.JPG "'Squire' Richard Gottfried putts through the remnants of a dinosaur at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course in Epsom") |
| 'Squire' Richard Gottfried putts through the remnants of a dinosaur at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course in Epsom |
The scores and second-round rankings from Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club were:
1. Richard Gottfried – 45 (+9)
2. Matt Dodd – 46 (+10)
3. Emily Gottfried – 47 (+11)
4. Helen Dodd – 50 (+14)
5. Oliver Florence – DNS / DNQ
.jpg "Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament second-round winner 'Squire' Richard Gottfried poses with the S.I.T. cup at Jungle Island Adventure Golf in Epsom") |
| Second-round winner of the Surrey Invitational Tournament 'Squire' Richard Gottfried holds the S.I.T. cup at Horton Park Golf Club |
However, this wasn’t enough to take the overall title as Matt Dodd’s score of 46 saw him take a one-shot victory and claim the Surrey Invitational Tournament title and trophy for 2014.
.JPG "Overall S.I.T. champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd in action on the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom") |
| Overall S.I.T. champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd in action on the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom |
The final rankings and two-round totals from the Surrey Invitational Tournament (S.I.T.) 2014 were:
1. Matt Dodd – 94 (+22)
2. Richard Gottfried – 95 (+23)
3. Emily Gottfried – 99 (+27)
4. Helen Dodd – 108 (+36)
5. Oliver Florence – DNF
The Surrey Invitational Tournament 2015 will be played in Guildford.
Congrats Matt.. excellent win for an excellent trophy :)
ReplyDeletecan't wait to play again next year
That there Horton course is the one I posted about playing on the forum August 2013. I scored a 38 with a course ball and putter so either they've made it harder or you weren't playing that well.
ReplyDeletePity I couldn't join you it sounds like you all had a lot of fun.
We were tired by the time we reached Epsom, having had to drive through a few detours. Ahem.
ReplyDeleteA great fun event and a brilliant victory for Woking's own 'Don' Matt Dodd. What a champion for the county.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised Emily didn't pick up the win after playing so well on 34 of the 36-holes, but errors (jiffs) on the 18th at Woking and the 17th in Epsom done her in.
Helen's run of threes must be some sort of minigolf record too! I think Marc 'The Roller' Bazeley has a new minigolf nemesis (he's the reigning MMGC Interim Threes Championship Silver Champion).
Well done to all in the tourney. I'm looking forward to the 2015 Surrey Invitational Tournament in Guildford, perhaps we can visit the castle while we're there too.