Christoph Meister reports:
During the second weekend of August 2023 a total of fifty-nine hickory golfers from eight nations met during three days at Golf Club Rhein-Main in Wiesbaden to crown the 2023 German Open Hickory Champion.
The Hickory Scramble on Friday was won by the Team from the Czech Republic consisting of Andrea Hoffmannová, Vita Hoffmann, Libor Jirasek and Dalibor Prochazka though securing the Trophy of the Honorary Secretary.
For the 36-hole stroke play championship played on Saturday and Sunday the par-72 course in the Hessen state capital Wiesbaden with its differences in elevation, slopes and tricky greens proved to be a real test also demanding every player fitness.
The ladies title the 2019 Lily-Trophy was secured by 15-year-old Marie Kauder from Golf- und Land-Club Berlin-Wannsee with 177 strokes for thirty-six holes ahead of the five-time title holder, Sweden’s Britta Nord from Bro-Balsta with 192 strokes.
The gentlemen’s competition proved to be much closer. After a very close finish, 16-year-old Louis Dudzus (Golf- und Land-Club Berlin-Wannsee) won with 152 strokes ahead of Australian professional Perry Somers and former European Tour Player Heinz-Peter Thül (both 153 strokes). Louis though became the proud winner of the historic Tanfani-di-Montalto trophy dating from 1912. The “hickory junior golfer” had already secured the title of German Amateur Hickory Amateur Hickory Champion in 2020 and 2021 finishing the competition as the best Amateur player.
The 2024 German Open Hickory Championship will be played at Royal Homburg Golf Club near Frankfurt celebrating their 125th club anniversary from 16 to 18 August 2024. For more information, please check http://www.german-hickory.com
-
- The Czech team of, from left: Libor Jirasek, Dalibor Prochazka, Andrea Hoffmannová, and Vita Hoffmann.
-
- The players at the 2023 German Open Hickory Championship.
-
- Top players at the 2023 German Open Hickory Championship. From left: Claus Mühlfeit, Markus Kümmerle, Hendrik Hilgert, Klaus Sasse, Alexander Huchel, Tatjana Thoss, Britta Nord, Louis Dudzus, Perry Somers, Brian Gee, and Iain Forrester.
-
- Heinz-Peter Thül and Andreas Biste from Cologne ponder the next challenge.
-
- Young champs Louis Dudzus, left, and Sebastian Luckei at the 2023 German Open Hickory Championship.