Departure Ceremony and Pledge Meeting of Organization Committee&Staff of China's First Minigolf League Match Was Held
On June 19, the departure ceremony and oath meeting of 2024 China Minigolf League Organization Committee&Staff, which was sponsored by the Social Sports Guidance Center of the State General Administration of Sport, was successfully held in Zhouzhuang Invengo Minigolf International Club. This is another highlight event in Kunshan after the 16th Minigolf World Championship in 2019. At the same time, it marks the official launch of the preparatory work for the 2024 China Minigolf League Match.
In 1896, the first modern Summer Olympic Games were successfully held. The Olympic motto of "Faster, higher, Stronger, more united" has been passed down for centuries and has far-reaching influence. Guided by the Olympic spirit, China Minigolf Sport Promotion Committee is committed to promoting and popularizing Minigolf sport in China, making Minigolf sport into blossom all over the country, and becoming a beautiful local sports business card.
At the ceremony, Li Zhiping, deputy director of Chinese Minigolf Sport Promotion Committee, delivered a congratulatory speech, in which he expressed his ardent expectations and best wishes for the team. He said that Minigolf sport was introduced into Kunshan through the 16th World Championship, this time, from Kunshan to the country, I hope that the Committee will work together, go all out to win the first "battle" of China Minigolf League Match, and successfully complete the preparatory work.
Wu Liancai, deputy director of Kunshan Culture, Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, highly affirmed the work of Chinese Minigolf Sport Promotion Committee and introduced the origin of Minigolf and Kunshan. He pointed out that this ceremony is an important milestone in the development of Minigolf Sport in China. It is of positive significance to promote the popularization and development of Minigolf and improve the competitive level of this sport.
At the ceremony, the Chinese Minigolf Sport Promotion Committee invited Zhao Zhongcheng, Xu Meixiang and other members of the Chinese National team of the 16th Minigolf World Championship to give flags to the staff of the cities stage race of the China Minigolf League Match, hoping that they can carry out the important task of the development and promotion of Minigolf sport with firm faith and successfully complete the task.
In addition, Organization Committee of 2024 China Minigolf League Match took an oath, and the representatives of the cities stage race of 2024 China Minigolf League Match signed a military warrant, full of confidence and determination for the victory of the campaign.
The leaders who attended the ceremony came on stage and beat drums for the warriors who went out to encourage them, hoping that the team went out all the way to flower and bear fruit.
The President of SmartPutt Jane Wang pointed out : The wind is rising, the drums of departure are thundering! The horn of the expedition has sounded, I wish the warriors of the to ride the wind in June, break the waves, and cast a new chapter in the promotion and development of Minigolf Sport in China!
Minigolf League Match Kunshan European and American Alumni Association and Yangtze River Delta Region opened
On the morning of September 9, the first Minigolf League Match Kunshan European and American Alumni Association and Yangtze River Delta Region was opened. Sponsored and organized by Suzhou Smartputt Sports Technology Co., Ltd.
Justin Lee
On the morning of September 9, the first Minigolf League Match Kunshan European and American Alumni Association and Yangtze River Delta Region was opened. Sponsored and organized by Suzhou Smartputt Sports Technology Co., Ltd.,this match was hold in Invengo International Minigolf Club. Zhu Jun, Secretary-General of Jiangsu European and American Alumni Association, Wang Yan, Deputy Director of Suzhou Overseas Chinese Office, Zhong Wei, Secretary-General of Suzhou European and American Alumni Association, Hu Zhiwu, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Japan Branch of Shanghai European and American Alumni Association, Zhang Jun, Executive Vice Minister of the United Front Work Department of Kunshan Municipal Party Committee, etc. attended the event.
Li Zhiping, executive president of the Kunshan European and American Alumni Association, delivered a speech, hoping to deepen the exchange and cooperation between overseas returnees in the Yangtze River Delta through the competition.
In his speech, Zhang Jun expressed his good wishes for this event, and hoped that the majority of overseas students would give full play to the advantages of both international vision and double-innovation spirit, be rooted in the local, international-oriented, integrate cross-regional and cross-cultural resources, and provide strong support for Kunshan's economic transformation, upgrading and innovative development.
Subsequently, nearly 200 athletes and referees from 16 teams from Shanghai, Suzhou, Kunshan and other places gathered at the world's largest full-category Minigolf International Club and opened a wonderful Minigolf competition feast.
After a wonderful and fierce competition, Zhang Hongkai of the KNSSA won the first place for men, and Yuan Ziqin of the children's school team for Canadian foreigners in Kunshan (Kunga Wolves) won the first place for women.
The contestants have said that this is not only a sports competition, but also a gathering of friendship. Sports has built a bridge of friendship, enhanced mutual understanding and communication, and established a deep friendship, and are more looking forward to continuing to compete in the competition on September 16.
It is reported that on September 17th. Group competition will also be held in Kunshan which will decide the group champion, runner-up and third runner-up
Let's look forward to it together!
Olivia Prokopova Wins Her Third Green Jacket
14 Oct 2021 at 14:14
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - A lot may have changed for Olivia Prokopova since the last time she won the USPMGA Master's green jacket in 2013 but one thing that didn't is her putting in the clutch. With three aces in the final four holes of the 2021 Master's, she closed out the grueling event to become a three-time winner and the first mom to grab the jacket.
Just in the past year, Prokopova got married to fellow putter Wade Sahmel, who finished 11th in the Master's, and saw the birth of their daughter Amelie. It was not the easiest of years though as Amelie was born prematurely and Olivia had various complications during birth, but her focus as a putter and the love and support of her family helped overcome the odds the past week.
The 2021 edition of the Master's was a twelve round competition played over three days and three courses. The first two days saw a third of the field work their way through three rounds each at Hawaiian Rumble, the Pineapple course at Hawaiian Village and the Aloha course. With the best players spread across those courses, there's a lot of mental gymnastics happening to figure out where people are going to land before the whole field comes together for the tenth round at Aloha. This year it was even more so because that round start was moved up due to threat of thunderstorms in the afternoon on Friday so there was no re-pairing during that round. It wouldn't be until the end of the tenth round where we would see how the field shook out from the week.
At that point, Prokopova, who had started the tournament on the hardest of the three courses, Pineapple, trailed by two strokes to Joey Graybeal (2109 champion) and one stroke to Rainey Statum (2020 champion). She had kept it tight by posting a 25 on her second round at Aloha, which tied Gary English for the lowest round of the tournament. It would then be off to the races for Prokopova who would post four-straight 30s across Aloha and Rumble.
What everyone didn't know was that the Top 35, who had made the "cut" to play later on Saturday morning for their final two rounds, were in for some weather for those rounds. After adjusting to new carpet on the Rumble course it would now be a case of who could adjust to the carpets speed in rain, a condition which hadn't really been seen much in practice that week. With the top ten only separated by eight strokes and it being a group of accomplished putters and Master's winners, everyone was in for a treat.
The first moves were made in round eleven as Statum would post a respectable 32 but Prokopova's 30 would slide her past him for the top spot as Graybeal carded a 34. It was then a matter of holding on for 18 holes, which was a tough feat as Statum posted an even better 31 in the final round. Once again given the threat of weather, there was no re-pairing for the final round so Prokopova found herself ahead on the course of Statum and Graybeal coming down the final stretch. So when she aced the easier hole one and then the more difficult, with the new carpet, hole 2, the field knew the pressure was on. However, she all but sealed it with an ace on hole 4, which until then had only 7 aces for the entire tournament. When Statum hit a deuce on three it was over and Sahmel got to celebrate with her family. It also clinched the women's title for her and with Graybeal as her doubles partner there was no doubt about them winning that title as well. Statum would finish 2nd and Graybeal would finish in a tie for 3rd with Matt McCaslin who was also inducted into the USPMGA Hall of Fame in 2021. He is the 14th inductee.
Taking the stop spot earned Prokopova $5,500 (~4755 EUR). This year's tournament paid down to 35th, which took home $125 (~108 EUR). Full results and more information can be found at the links below.
Sheridan Hangs on to Win at Matterhorn
24 Sep 2021 at 16:36
Top 8 of the Pro Division
Canton, Connecticut - In the 5th year of his organization, The Putting Penguin, running the Matterhorn International Pro-Am, Pat Sheridan pushed his way up the leaderboard, outlasted the competition and grabbed his first win at the tournament. It was a beautiful September day as 18 pros and 20 amateurs teed up for the tournament looking to see if they could best a course known for its scant aces and handful of daunting holes. This year the pro division had been reduced from five rounds to three rounds and everyone knew this meant scores would be tight and every mistake would stand out.
Sheridan was up against some formidable competition that day as two of the past winners, Mark "Highlighter" Novicki and Justin Seymour, who was also coming off wins in Maine and Maryland, as well as local young-gun Jonah Hurley all were in the field. Seymour, Hurley and Sheridan would all come off the tee box strong, carding 38s in the first round. Dave Vayda, new to the tournament in 2021, also carded a 38 in the first round. The scores remained hot as the weather warmed up with Matt Liles joining the 38 club in the 2nd round while Hurley and Sheridan matched. This set up an intense final round with Sheridan and Hurley matched at 76, Seymour at 77 and Liles at 78. Randy Rice and Jacob Yale weren't far behind with 79s. In the 3rd round, Sheridan would sneak out to a 2 stroke lead at one point having gotten through the front nine with all twos. Seymour had slipped leaving a showdown between Sheridan, Hurley and Liles. Two bad mistakes left Hurley and Sheridan tied going into the 18th hole, a long and tough par 3 that Hurley had gotten a two on in the previous two rounds. It wouldn't be third time's a charm as he recorded a three and Sheridan just barely missed final hole glory as his second putt from 20 feet away had a bit too much pace on it and rimmed out. His tap in three meant it was playoff time. Liles would end up in third place.
Hurley and Sheridan are no strangers to playoffs at Matterhorn. In the first year of the tournament, Hurley, as a 11 year old, took 3rd place from Sheridan, then 37, with an aggressive ace on the first hole. Just earlier in the week this year, they had a 15 hole playoff for second place in the weekly league. Prior to that though, Sheridan had to take a few minutes to get the amateur prizes awarded.
This year the amateur division was dominated by Caleb Smith who at 15 set an amateur record of 120 for the 3 rounds along with a record low round score for an amateur of a 38. Caleb's dad Darren came in second with a 128 and Josh Hayes would hang on to finish on the podium by one stroke over Elizabeth Marsh with Hayes shooting a 133. The amateur division were awarded a variety of prizes and paid down to 8th place.
Amateur Division Top 8
With that out of the way, the question was what the playoff for the top spot in the pros would bring. This time around Hurley played more conservatively on the first hole and he and Sheridan matched 2s for the first two holes. On hole three, Hurley caught a crack in the bricks on his first shot leaving a tough second shot which he missed. Sheridan's tee shot fared much better, leaving him a tap in 2 for the win. It was a bit apt that Sheridan won on the hole named "Holey Moley" after his time on Season 1 of the popular American minigolf show.
Sheridan on Hole 11
Sheridan had this to say about this year's tournament, "First I'm very happy that Mandy [Ranslow] forgoed playing in the tournament to help administer the tournament. That helped me focus a bit more on the putting and overall made sure we had another successful tournament. This year saw the most pros we had playing, which is exciting and I hope we can grow on that in 2022.
"As far as my play went, I was a bit surprised I started off as strong as I did. Normally it takes me a bit to get into the groove after the administrative parts, so I was happy it was a hot start. That final round was super stressful with really any of the four of us in that group having a chance to win. When I messed up on 17, I thought I had blown my chance because Jonah was playing really well, especially on hole 18. I really thought I had won it with my second shot on 18 and then needed to reset for that playoff. My goal there was just no mistakes and it played out well for me. I'm very happy to get this trophy on my shelf."
This year The Putting Penguin also sponsored a skins match after the tournament where 4 pros were randomly selected to play a skins round for $10 a hole. Seymour was selected, along with Rice, Vayda and John O'Leary. O'Leary would end up the big winner netting skins of $80 and $20, with Seymour earning a $70 skin and Vayda a $10 skin.
Seymour Three-Peats in Maine
15 Sep 2021 at 12:23 | Published by: PatPenguin
Top 6 - Sheridan, Tiberio, Seymour, Jones, Goodkowsky, Novicki
Boothbay, Maine – Continuing a hot streak that has already earned him three wins in the northeast United States this summer, Justin Seymour showed what he had for the third year in a row at Dolphin Mini Golf. In 10 rounds, Seymour never scored above a 37 and that consistency on a course where aces are out there but 3’s and 4’s can loom large on some holes, was enough to breakaway from the competition and hold onto a commanding lead through the final round.
The 28th year of the tournament saw 19 putters tee it up for two days on September 11 and 12, an increase over the previous couple of years’ fields. The tournament, which has gone through some format changes over the past few years, was back to a 10 round marathon with 8 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. With several former winners in the field, it’s always tough to place a favorite on who will pace themselves the best, but Seymour would have been the betting favorite coming off victories in Maryland and Connecticut the previous two weekends.
It looked like it would be a challenge right out of the gate though, as round one saw the lowest scores of the day with 2016 champion Pat Sheridan shooting a 32 and Evan Goodkowsky scoring what would be a tournament-low 31. However, the scores would start to even out as the morning progressed and Seymour’s 37-35-33 was enough to put him on top of the field, a position he would then keep the rest of the tournament. By the end of round six his lead was up to four strokes over Sheridan and it would never shrink the rest of the way.
Thus, the battle was on for the rest of the paying spots. This year the tournament paid down to the 6th position and there was movement up and down the leaderboard. Sheridan would drop from 2nd down to 4th and then 6th by the time the tournament was over, while Caleb Jones and Josh Tiberio made their charge to the top. By the start of the last round, it was pretty certain they would finish two-three in some order and then there were three players – Sheridan, Goodkowsky and Mark “Highlighter” Novicki with a four-way tie for 4th. Behind them chomping at the bit were John O’Leary and Peter Burr but neither of them could sneak into the top six by the end. With a solid combo 34 and 35 in the final two rounds, Novicki would break the tie and grab 4th place with Goodkowsky settling in 5th.
Justin Seymour putting on hole 7 in the night rounds
Seymour would drop his round average by over a stroke from his 2020 win, finishing with a 35.5 average over the 10 rounds. The win captured him $500. He would also win the “first hole-in-one on Bobbin Buoys” prize, which is an annual tradition for the 15th hole given it’s the least aced hole on the course. Goodkowsky would grab an additional $100 as the only competitor to aces 18 during the annual hole-in-one competition after the tournament.
This event also doubles as a fundraiser for the Lee Stoddard Scholarship Fund. In addition to funds raised throughout the year at the course and the connected Ice Cream Hut, $1,250 (~1,058 EUR) was raised for the scholarship. The 2022 running of the event will be held the weekend of September 10-11, 2022 with similar expected buy-in and prize money.
Top 6
Justin Seymour – 355 ($500)
Caleb Jones – 365 ($250)
Josh Tiberio – 366 ($200)
Highlighter Novicki – 368 ($150)
Evan Goodkowsky – 370 ($100)
Pat Sheridan – 371 ($50)
Past National Champion wins TN Pro Mini Golf Open
31 Aug 2021 at 06:17 | Published by: PatPenguin
efferson City, TN - The US Pro Mini Golf Association’s TN Pro Mini Golf Open was held Saturday, August 28, at Mossy Creek Mini Golf. Joey Graybeal (Bristol, TN) won the six-round event after acing the first four out five holes in the final round of competition. Graybeal had 15 aces on the day only behind runner-up Kenny Jarnigan (New Market, TN) who aced 18 holes for the entire tournament.
Jarnigan’s opening round 34 (-2) had him tied for 1st place with Gary Hester (Calabash, NC). Another round of 34 (-2) in the second round left the local in sole possession of the lead at (-4). Graybeal opened his tournament with rounds of 37 (+1), 37 (+1), and 34 (-2) leaving him at EVEN for the morning session. A five bogey, including one double, round for Jarnigan also left him at EVEN par after three rounds.
With temperatures in the low 90s, scoring went up in the afternoon session. Graybeal and Jarnigan pulled away from the 23-player field both shooting 35 (-1), the only under par scores for round four. Graybeal shot his third under par round of the day in round five with another 35 (-1). Jarnigan had three aces and three bogeys in round 5 for an even par score of 36. Graybeal extended his one stroke lead going into the 6th and final round with aces on holes 1, 2, 3 and 5. Bogeys on holes 7 and 16 brought Graybeal back for a score of 34. Graybeal final scores were 37, 37, 34, 35, 35, 34 (212, -4). Jarnigan finished runner-up with a final round 36 to shoot (215, -1) three shots behind Graybeal. Gary Hester shot his final three rounds at even par to finish in third place at (+4).
Joey Graybeal has won both USPMGA national championships. He was the winner of the 2016 USPMGA US Open in Pennsylvania and the USPMGA Masters in South Carolina. The TN Open is his first title of the 2021 USPMGA Season. The next major USPMGA event will be the USPMGA Masters held in North Myrtle Beach, SC October 7-9.
This was Kenny Jarnigans second career pro tournament and top finish. For the win, Joey Graybeal took home $600 of the $2000 purse. The tournament paid out to the top 11 players. Defending TN Pro Mini Golf Champion Fred Stewart (Richmond, VA) finished 5th at (+9).
Mossy Creek Mini Golf will host the 2022 USPMGA US Open on May 20-21, 2022. The tournament will be 10 rounds have a $15,000 purse.
Robinson picks up first USPMGA title in the Smoky Mountain Match Play
The top 16 players from the TN Pro Mini Golf Open were invited back on Sunday, August 29, for the Smoky Mountain Match Play. After two rounds, the final four players remaining were #3 Gary Hester, #4 Travis Robinson (Bristol, TN) , #7 Rick Baird (Landis, NC) and #8 John Kropanik (Gladstone, MO)
The first semifinal match between Hester and Baird required four sudden death playoff holes to decide the winner. A par on the difficult hole 4 propelled Hester to the final match. In the second semifinal, Robinson defeated John Kropanik 3 & 1. Robinson road to the finals was not easy. Robinson was two holes down going into the last two holes against the 2020 TN Pro Mini Golf Champion Fred Stewart. Robinson aced holes 17 and 18 to force a playoff where he defeated Stewart.
For Hester, this was back-to-back years making the finals of the Smoky Mountain Match Play. The match started with both Hester and Robinson acing hole 1. Robinson followed his ace on hole 1 with another ace on hole 2. The ace gave Robinson a 1UP lead on the match. A bogey on hole 3 by Robinson brought the match back to all square. On hole 4, Hester made an ace to win his second hole in a row to take the lead in the match 1UP. Par on the difficult hole 6 was good enough for the win for Robinson.
The players remained all square through hole 11. On hole 12, Robinson bogeyed to give Hester a 1UP advantage. Both Robinson and Hester had pars on holes 13, 14 and 15. Hester aced hole 16 to expand his lead to 2UP. Hester’s par putt on hole 17 lipped out. Robinson was able to get his par. Leaving him 1 DOWN going into the final hole. Robinson parred 18. Hester’s tee shot on 18 went long leaving a difficult deuce putt. Hester’s putt missed the target forcing playoff holes. After pars on hole 1, Robinson aced hole 2. Hester was unable to follow-up with an ace of his own given Travis Robinson the 2021 Smokey Mountain Match Play Final.
This is Robinson’s first USPGMA Victory. The prize for 1st place was $500 of the $1000 purse. Hester took home $250 as the runner-up. Rick Baird was victorious in the third-place match and won $150. John Kropanik who $50 for making it to the final four.
Dr. Zimmermann Re-Elected AIMS Secretary General
14 Nov 2021 at 14:04 | Published by: PatPenguin
AIMS General Assembly took place on the virtual platform with one main agenda point being the AIMS Council re-election from the period of 2021-2025. President Stephen Fox, who has been leading AIMS since 2015, made an extensive report highlighting the achievements of AIMS over the last five years.
During this meeting Stephen Fox was re-elected as President. In addition, Dr Gerhard Zimmermann, President of the World Minigolf Sport Federation, was re-elected as the Secretary General during this same assembly. Dr. Zimmerman has been in this position since 2015.
AIMS has become a credible and respectable member of the Olympic family receiving full IOC recognition as an IF umbrella body for sports striving towards Olympic recognition in 2020.
Other highlights of the meeting included discussion of the AIMS members who have received full IOC recognition and the UTS World Virtual Youth Festival. Other results from the AIMS election included Panagiotis Theodoropoulos elected as the 1st Vice President and Dr Julie Gabriel as the 2nd Vice President, Treasurer Kei Izawa, and council members, Mike Thomas, Helen Lundberg, Sabine Shanahan, Gaston Parage, Marius Vizer Jr and certainly Michal Buchel.
For the full press release from AIMS, see the link below.