Results of the second Surrey Invitational Tournament.
On Saturday 14th May five semi-pro minigolfers competed in the second edition of the Surrey Invitational Tournament in a two-round, two-course, 27-hole contest.
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| The Surrey Invitational Tournament competitors line-up for a shot at the title in Woking Park |
The competition was played at the 9-hole Eternit Miniature Golf course at Woking Park, and the 18-hole Swedish Felt B-Run course at Stoke Park in Guildford. The staging of the 2016 event coincided with National Miniature Golf Day.
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| Inaugural Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd leads out the players on hole 1 at Woking Park |
The champion after 27-holes of play was Burpham's Oliver 'The Machine' Florence, who was victorious with a score of 65, having shot rounds of 19 and 46. Luton's 'Squire' Richard Gottfried became a two time S.I.T. runner-up with a total of 74, with Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried picking up the bronze medal with a score of 82.
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| The new Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Oliver 'The Machine' Florence captured the title and big minigolf trophy at Guildford's Stoke Park |
The first stage of the Surrey Invitational Tournament was won by Surrey's Steve 'F1' Gow with a score of 17(-1) on the Woking Park layout. However, the veteran and GB international was unable to maintain the momentum and scored 68 in round two to finish in fourth place.
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| Steve 'F1' Gow playing the snakey second hole in Woking |
Defending champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd scored rounds of 33 and 61 to finish in fifth place.
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| Ollie on target in Woking |
New Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Oliver 'The Machine' Florence said "At the
first Surrey Invitational in 2014 I had a prior engagement which meant I had to leave the tournament after the first round and it was really disappointing as I was in the lead. I was a bit worried I was going to have to depart early this year as I was scheduled to attend my mother's birthday tea at 4pm in Weybridge but luckily I managed to get the job done before heading off to enjoy the party."
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| Oliver in action on hole 6 of the Woking Park Mini Golf course |
Florence commented "Among the sandwiches my particular favourites were the mini ham rolls but I also took a shine to the cream cheese and cucumber offerings. After a round of scones, both fruit and plain, with raspberry jam and cream, I partook in a delightful mango cheesecake among other sweet treats."
Florence added "Thanks to Richard and Emily for organising the Surrey Invitational and Matt and Englefield Green's finest Steve for taking part. I look forward to defending the magnificent trophy next time."
The scores and first-round rankings from Woking were:
1. Steve 'F1' Gow - 17
2. Oliver 'The Machine' Florence - 19
3. 'Squire' Richard Gottfried - 24
4. Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried - 28
5. Matt 'The Don' Dodd - 33
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| 'Squire' Richard Gottfried playing the second hole in Woking |
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| Matt tackles the fifth hole |
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| Steve on the seventh |
Each round winner of the Surrey Invitational Tournament gets to lift the trophy, but only the overall winner gets to keep it until the next edition of the event.
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| Steve 'F1' Gow with the Grand Prix - for the first round at least |
The scores and second-round rankings from Guildford were:
1. Oliver 'The Machine' Florence - 65
2. 'Squire' Richard Gottfried - 50
3. Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried - 54
4. Matt 'The Don' Dodd - 61
5. Steve 'F1' Gow - 68
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| Tournament leader Steve Gow tees-off round two at Guildford's Stoke Park |
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| Emily playing the second hole. Quite possibly the most difficult hole in minigolf - all of the players scored a seven on it! |
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| Matt tackling another very difficult hole |
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| Richard has slightly better luck than Matt as Ollie looks on |
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| Steve playing his second shot as Ollie gets ready to tee-off |
The final rankings and two-round totals from the Surrey Invitational Tournament 2016 were:
1. Oliver 'The Machine' Florence - 65
2. 'Squire' Richard Gottfried - 74
3. Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried - 82
4. Steve 'F1' Gow - 85
5. Matt 'The Don' Dodd - 94
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| Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Oliver 'The Machine' Florence playing the Stoke Park loop-di-loop hole. Strangely, the loop is turfed on the outside! |
Surrey Invitational Tournament Hall of Fame
2016 - Oliver 'The Machine' Florence
2014 - Matt 'The Don' Dodd
National Miniature Golf Day Tournament Hall of Fame
2016 - Oliver 'The Machine' Florence
2015 - Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd
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I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
.JPG "All hands on deck! The crew of the pirate ship at Pirate Island Adventure Golf in Woking taking aim")
.JPG "The loot, map and weapons safely stowed aboard the ship")
.jpg "You begin playing the first of two minigolf holes aboard the pirate ship OUTSIDE. From the tee you have to successfully get the ball up the pipe beyond the blue crate. And if you're lucky you'll be rewarded with an ace")
.JPG "Emily firing in a shot at Pirate Island Adventure Golf")
.JPG "Helen Dodd putting aboard the ship during the Surrey Invitational Tournament")
.JPG "A big old crocodile at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Woking. Thankfully there are handy rafts to traverse the treacherous waters surrounding the minigolf course")
.JPG "Always heed the warnings at a minigolf course")
.JPG "An Adventure Golf crocodile, or alligator, at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey")
.JPG "Emily putts as a couple of alligators, or crocodiles, look on at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey")
.JPG "A croc emerges from the water at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey")
.JPG "Some ancient alligators on a cave painting at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey")
.JPG "An Alligator at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey")
.JPG "A crocodile at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey")
.JPG "Hungry as a crocodile after your round on the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course? Then head to the club house to snap up some food at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey")
.jpg "Minigolfer Richard Gottfried at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "Playing a shot on a big green at Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "Matt holes out on the very long par-5 third-hole at Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "Oliver in great form at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "Helen plays a shot on the BIG minigolf loop-di-loop at Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "Emily inspects the cannon as Oliver prepares to putt at Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "The first hole at the stern of the pirate ship at Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
.JPG "The pirate ship at Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Woking has two holes and three tee-off points")
.JPG "Inside the pirate ship at Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking is a blacklit hole!")
.JPG "Emily plays a shot inside the pirate ship at Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey")
