FIPPA Newsletter - December 2008.
Welcome to this edition of the FIPPA Newsletter.
The Year that was
Review of 2008
As we contemplate Christmas, it's appropriate to reflect on what has probably been the most successful year yet for international Pitch and Putt.
2008 opened with a result that reverberated around the Pitch and Putt world. Not the shock it would once have been but, quite a milestone nonetheless. Catalonia defeated Ireland by 10-6 in a friendly international at Platja d'Aro. It was the Catalan's first-ever success against the Irish a decade after the first of their nine encounters, at nearby Solius.
Just a week later, Marcal More, one of that jubilant Catalonia team, won the Catalan Open at Handicap One. More's 54 hole tally of 154 was a just a single shot clear of fellow Platja d'Aro hero, Dani Gimenez. Former Irish girls cham,pion Tracey McGrath was a clear ladies winner.
In a wonderful finish to a marvellous French Open at La Grande Motte, international open specialist Ian Farrelly (Ireland) downed a tricky final green birdie putt to just hold off t brave Dutchman Rolf Kwant. Tracey McGrath completed a quick ladies double with a five shot win.
Alan Hanlon
Alan Hanlon has come to regard the San Marino Open as his personal property.
Josep Fontdegloria of Catalonia won the inaugural Swiss International Seniors Open at the scenic Verbier course in the Alps. Josep finished three clear of Andorran Pepe Garcia.
Ian Farrelly was in irrepressible form at the Italian Open. The Duleek club member from Ireland wlatzed round the Virginia course in 140, 22 under par for three rounds. That left Farrelly eleven clear of fellow Irishman Alan Hanlon. Italian Benedetta Farinella eded out Ireland's Tracey McGrath in the ladies tournament.
The third World Cup boasted its strongest field yet, fourteen nations. Favourites Ireland dominated at Papendal, the trio of Ray Murphy, Derek Courtney and Paul O'Brien defeating the Dutch in the final to claim the mother country's first-ever World crown. Holders Catalonia finished third.
The Willie Parker Challenge Cup brought the Irish supporters out in force on a cold November weekend in R.G.S.C., near Dublin. International newcomer Sean Goggin snatched the coveted jacket in the Strokeplay pipe-opener. Ireland won the ensuing Matchplay joust 30.5 points to 9.5 but there were many closely contested matches in what was a real feel-good encounter, epitomising the true spirit of Pitch and Putt.
Home players dominated in the boiling hot temperatures at the season ending Australian Open at Wagga Wagga. Leon Brown took the men's championship from Phil Shaw-Dennis. The ladies champion is Naideen Clarke, who just beat her daughter Christine Harley. Earlier in 2008, James Rogerson and Christine Harley had been crowned Australian Matchplay champions at Waverley.
If 2008 was good, 2009 promises to be even better. For the first time in six years, we won't have a major team championship as we move to a four year cycle for the European championship and World Cup. However, the intriguing possibility of the first-ever World Strokeplay championship beckons along with an unprecedented seven international opens along with a second Australian Triple Crown. Bring it on and keep visiting www.fippa.net for all the news.
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