Gottfrieds in action for GB minigolf team

Ten teams from seven countries contested the team tournament with a total of 46 players from nine different countries taking part overall. The Great Britain team, sponsored by UrbanCrazy, was split into two four-player teams as they took on competitors from Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Russia and Sweden in the individual tournament at the Tantogårdens BGK course.

Captain Richard and Emily were part of the Great Britain IIs team which also consisted of Cambridgeshire’s Tony Kelly and Margate’s Scott Lancley. Drawn in Group B they finished fifth behind Austria, Sweden, Sweden IIIs and Switzerland and 10th overall, with the British first team one place ahead, recording the first point scored by a Great Britain team at a WMF Nations Cup event.

Over eight rounds of minigolf, played on the two 18-hole courses, Richard scored a total of 275 (-13), with Emily scoring 290 (+2).

Emily’s round of 24 (-12) on the Eternite-type miniature golf course set a new British Women’s record on the playing surface, and was Emily’s all-time personal best on any type of minigolf course.

In the female category Emily finished 10th of 11 players, while Richard was 34th of 35 players in the male category. Overall Richard finished 41st of 46 players, while Emily was 45th.

The overall winners of the tournament were Sweden, with Sweden IIs runners-up and Austria defeating Germany in the third versus fourth place play-off match.

Emily said: “The Nations Cup was a great experience for me. I feel that I learned a great deal which really improved my minigolf ability.

My round of 24 was the undoubted highlight. To score 12-under par on such a tough course was a real achievement for me.”

The Great Britain team was coached at the tournament by Swedish players Björn Dinau and Eirik Seljelid, who have both previously competed on the British Minigolf Association Tour.

Richard said: “The whole trip was excellent, from the training through to the competition days

“Emily’s round of 24 was one of many highlights of the event and I was very happy to have shot new personal bests on the Eternite and Beton European-Standard courses.

“To have hit three rounds in the twenties was quite an achievement too.”