Aug. 4-5, 2018
Båstad Golfklubb
Båstad, Sweden
By Georg Kittel
Once again Sweden has taken centre stage in the world of hickory golf. The 21st Swedish Hickory Championship was staged at Båstad Golfklubb Aug. 4-5, 2018 with 141 contestants in the Championship Divisions and additional 15 players in the Handicap Division, in total 156 participants, all playing with old hickory clubs. Arguably the largest and toughest hickory event in the world.
The Old Course at Båstad Golfklubb is one of Sweden’s foremost classics: a parkland course designed by Hawtree & Taylor and opened in 1930 as only the second 18-hole course in Sweden. Immediately it became internationally renowned, attracting players like Henry Cotton and Percy Alliss in the early years. It was initiated and owned by Ludvig Nobel , who was a successful entrepreneur and a nephew of the world famous donor Alfred Nobel (”The Nobel Prize”).
All three Championship Divisions ended up in very close races for the top positions, two of them requiring sudden-death playoffs before a new hickory champion could be decided.
RESULTS
The Swedish Hickory Championship, Gentlemen’s Division, 36-hole stroke play, scratch (94 players)
1. Johan Wahlqvist Lunds Akademiska GK 148 gross score
2. Johan Moberg Norrköping Söderköping GK 149
3. Adam Mednickson Falsterbo GK 152
The Swedish Hickory Championship, Ladies’ Division, 36-hole stroke play, scratch (15 players)
1. Christina Elmér Flommens GK 162 gross score *
2. Andrea Lindal Flommens GK 162
3. Sofie Karsberg Båstad GK 170
* winner on the third playoff hole
The Swedish Hickory Championship, Seniors’ (65+) Division, 18-hole stroke play, scratch (32 players)
1. Bengt Gustafson Isaberg GK 80 gross score*
2. Gunnar Bagge Göteborgs GK 80
3. Johan Lindeberg Ljunghusens GK 82
* winner on the third playoff hole
The Swedish Hickory Jug, 18-hole stroke play with handicap (51 players)
1. Antti Paatola Keimola Golf, Finland 69 net score
2. Krister Trulsson Båstad GK 72
3. Sara Gunnarsson Kalmar GK 73
The Swedish Hickory Championship is organized under the patronage of The Swedish Society of Golf Historians and is open to players from all over the world with pre-1935 hickory shafted clubs (modern replicas not permitted). The 22nd Swedish Hickory Championship will take place Aug. 3-4 2019 at Falkenbergs Golfklubb.
Click on the images below to see a larger image.
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- Playing down the 18th at Båstad Golfklubb, Old Course, and its famous trademark, an old windmill.
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- Andrea Lindal, 14, came very close to winning the Ladies Division, finishing 2nd after losing in a tight playoff. It was her debut in the Swedish Hickory Championship.
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- Antti Paatola, of Finland, won the Swedish Hickory Jug.
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- Leif Einarsson was playing in his 17th Swedish Hickory Championship.
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- Top-3 in the Gentlemen’s Division: Johan Moberg (silver), Johan Wahlqvist (gold) and Adam Mednickson (bronze).