31/12/2007

2007 REVIEW

Reflecting on the international season

2007 International Pitch and Putt season in Review

2007 was a busy year on the international Pitch and Putt calendar. It brought us the regular Opens from France, Italy and San Marino as well as the European Team Championships in Chia, Italy. 2007 also saw a brand new event, the Australian Triple Crown, which attracted the interest of players and supporters alike.

The year in numbers

In 2007, 198 players (161 men and 37 women) played in an international event for individuals and these players represented a total of 12 nations. (approx. 350 players from around the globe also took part in the popular World Interclub League).

Ian Farrelly and Alan Hanlon from Ireland won two international events each, Farrelly taking out the French and Australian Opens, Alan Hanlon winning the San Marino Open and the first international night event, the Australian Night Championship, with the other events going to Italy's Cosimo Baroni (Italian Open), and James Carroll from Ireland took the Australian Matchplay title.

In the ladies, Liz Quinn took an astonishing 4 titles to stamp herself as one of the greats of the international circuit. It is believed that this is the first time a player has won 4 international titles in a single season. Liz won the French Open, San Marino Open, Australian Matchplay and Australian Open in an amazing season of versatility and determination.
.The Italian Open was won by local Monica Infusino and the Australian Night Championship by Sandra Hutchison.

ETC 2007

10 nations took part in the 5th European Championship and once again Ireland ran out convincing winners, winning the title from Catalonia.

Final placings were...
Ireland
Catalonia
Great Britain
Holland
Andorra
Norway
Italy
France
San Marino
Switzerland

Ireland won the ladies invitational event from Italy/San Marino with the Rest of Europe finishing third.

Internationals

Three internationals were played during the year.
Chile defeated Argentina, 165- 129, in a stableford based friendly in Santiago in October.
Australia lost to a Rest of the World team, 2.5 - 8.5, on November 14 in a Test match played under lights.
Catalonia defeated Andorra, 9-3, in an international played on November 24/25.

WIL

The third season of the World Interclub League was played with Irish club St Patricks winning the title in its first season.