The Lahti Minigolf Centre hosted a historic WMF Minigolf World Championships 2015 from August 19th to the 22nd.
Players from 21 countries and five continents registered for the event; 127 among them competed in the biannual 4-day premier minigolf championship in the world. The field included players from Kenya and New Zealand who made their maiden appearances at the World Championships.
The 2015 World Championships took place on two of the WMF-recognised systems: felt and miniature golf. Many of the teams arrived several days in advance to train; in an attempt to defend their 2013 men and women team titles, the German team were the first to arrive in Lahti. The extra preparation by the German team appeared to pay off as they became the first country to sweep team and individual gold medals at a single World Championships. Pasi Aho, WMF Sport Director, noted the conditions were ideal for world-class minigolf, not only did Germany make history but both “Sweden and the Czech Republic with four medals each were very strong.”
Gerhard Zimmermann, WMF President, noted that the “high level of performance and fair play among the competitors was clearly evident”; beyond the competition, the interactions between nations on and off the course created long-lasting friendships across the participants.
Rolf Bergström, course owner, announced “it was my life-long dream to host the World Championships on my course and now this dream has become true.” This dream has not yet concluded as the Seniors World Championships will be held in 2016 at the same course.
“The World Championships in Lahti was no doubt the highlight of the minigolf year 2015,” said Pasi Aho. The WMF is already looking ahead to build upon this successful tournament as they look towards the 2017 World Championships to be held at the Zaton Holiday Resort in Zadar, Croatia.
The medalists are listed below with full results available at http://www.mrs.fi/wc15/tulokset/.
Team Event: Women
Gold – Germany, 484 strokes
Silver – Switzerland, 505 strokes
Bronze – Czech Republic, 510 strokes
Team Event: Men
Gold – Germany, 906 strokes
Silver – Sweden, 915 strokes
Bronze – Czech Republic, 941 strokes
Individual Stroke-Play Event: Women
Gold – Stefanie BLENDERMANN (GER), 257 strokes
Silver – Jasmin EHM (GER), 260 strokes
Bronze – Eva LIBIGEROVA (CZE), 267 strokes
Individual Stroke-Play Event: Men
Gold – Marcel NOACK (GER), 244 strokes
Silver – Fredrik PERSSON (SWE), 244 strokes
Bronze – Sebastian PIEKORZ (GER), 244 strokes.
Individual Match-Play Event: Women
Gold – Jasmin EHM (GER)
Silver – Melanie HAMMERSCHMIDT (GER)
Bronze – Lara JEHLE (AUS)
Individual Match-Play Event: Men
Gold – Sebastian PIEKORZ (GER)
Silver – Fredrik PERSSON (SWE)
Bronze – Marek SMEJKAL (CZE).
The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the umbrella organization of minigolf sport associations worldwide and continental associations in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Member of the AIMS. Represents 55 full member associations and more than 38,000 registered players worldwide. The members of the WMF organize over 1,300 tournaments each year. The WMF was officially formed in 1963, organizes World Championships, Youth World Championships, Continental Championships (in Europe, Asia and America) and Youth European Championships on a biennial cycle. The WMF has organized Minigolf as a sport, including introduction of the World Ranking systems.
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