Results and report from the second Knowley Grail Minigolf Competition.
The second edition of the Knowley Grail was contested between thirteen BMGA Tour Pro players following the first day's play of the BMGA British Open at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate, Kent.
The rules of the Knowley Grail dictate that all players use the same Minigolf ball - a 'Pinky Diver' - and any player scoring a seven is automatically eliminated from the rest of the one-round competition.
With two balls available the group of thirteen split into two groups and commenced play. Defending champion Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd was in group one and along with players including Seth Thomas and Will Donnelly set an early pace rattling in the holes-in-one.
.JPG "'Squire' Richard Gottfried plays hole three at Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate, Kent during the second The Knowley Grail minigolf tournament") |
| 'Squire' Richard Gottfried plays hole three at Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate, Kent during the second The Knowley Grail minigolf tournament |
The first player to be eliminated was 'Oh' Chris Jones who was unable to get the super bouncy ball to stay at the top of the ramp at hole three and so was relegated to a 'plastic garden chair of shame' for the rest of the round.
.JPG "'Oh' Chris Jones has a rest after being eliminated from the Knowley Grail at hole 3") |
| 'Oh' Chris Jones has a rest after being eliminated from the Knowley Grail at hole 3 |
No other players were eliminated from the tournament until Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson Don't Call Me Sue Thompson' Johnson scored a seven at the 11th hole - the aptly named "Heartbreak Ridge". The hole would also claim Scott 'Donkey Gringo' Lancley as another victim and both would join 'Oh' Chris Jones on the lawnchairs of shame.
.JPG "Paul 'Johnson etc.' Johnson having been eliminated from the Knowley Grail at hole 11") |
| A less than happy Paul 'Johnson etc.' Johnson having been eliminated from the Knowley Grail at hole 11 |
.JPG "Scott 'Donkey Gringo' Lancley takes a seat after being knocked out of the Knowley Grail tourney at hole 11") |
| Scott 'Donkey Gringo' Lancley takes a seat after being knocked out of the Knowley Grail tourney at hole 11 |
At the end of the 18-hole round there was a tie for first place, with James 'The Rocket' Rutherford and Adam 'AK47' Kelly both scoring rounds of 38(+2). A sudden-death play-off commenced and The Rocket scored a hole-in-one, while AK47 was unable to respond with an Ace, meaning that the new Knowley Grail champion was James Rutherford.
.JPG "James 'The Rocket' Rutherford looks for an Ace at hole 11 to take the outright win") |
| James 'The Rocket' Rutherford looks for an Ace at hole 11 to take the outright win |
.JPG "A reluctant and defeated Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd hands over the Knowley Grail trophy to James 'The Rocket' Rutherford") |
| A reluctant and defeated Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd hands over the Knowley Grail trophy to James 'The Rocket' Rutherford |
Results of the second Knowley Grail competition:
1. James Rutherford - 38 - won play-off
2. Adam Kelly - 38
3. Ted McIver - 41
4. Michael Smith - 42
5. Brad Shepherd - 43
5. Will Donnelly - 43
7. Richard Gottfried - 47
8. Seth Thomas - 48
8. Alan Norman - 48
10. Gareth Holmes - 51
DNF Scott Lancley - scored a 7 at hole 11
DNF Paul Johnson - scored a 7 at hole 11
DNF Chris Jones - scored a 7 at hole 3
The Knowley Grail minigolf competition was created by members of the London Minigolf Club following the Midlands Open tournament held at the 12-hole Minigolf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. The LMGC members had spent the Friday perusing the charity shops of nearby Knowle and found a silver chalice on sale for £2.50. This became the trophy for the Knowley Grail tournaments.
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