METSEK Disabled Matchplay Championships 2021 was held 17.-18.9.2021 top condition Master Golf Forest and Master -courses.
The weather throughout the event was autumn cold and windy but dry, with the exception of a few brief rain. The prevailing conditions did not bother the players, as this was the first time in Finland that there were match play championships for golfers with disabilities. A total of 8 golfers took part of tournaments according their golf handicap. Players were divided into two baskets, also based on their golf handicap, after which the drawn first-round match pairs were ready to start the action. The game format was Matchplay without golf handicaps.
“Such an event is a great idea,” said Jukka Syrjänen, one of the pioneers of golfers with disabilities in Finland. “Usually we have only played stroke play kind of tournaments in Finland, so this form of play is a stimulus and a much-needed addition to the competition calendar. As soon as I heard about this event, I thought that i should get involved,” Syrjänen continues. In general, the message was parallel for all players in the tournament. An event like this has been in demand for a long time.
17.9.2021 at 15.00 Jari Vihanne had the honor of hitting the opening shot of the historic tournament. Other players had gathered around the No. 1 tii on Master’s Forest course to witness the event. The first shot was successful and the ball landed in the middle of the fairway, accompanied by applauses. When asked “Did you get nervous?” Vihanne said with a laugh, “No. This is where this game is just beginning, an awesome event coming.”
