European Championships in Disabled Golf at Bokskogen – Top Conditions, Excellent Organization, and Fighting Spirit from the Finns

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On the last weekend of August, golf was played under exceptional circumstances in Svedala, southern Sweden, as Bokskogens Golf Club hosted the 2025 European Individual Championship for Golfers with Disability. The tournament brought together around 80 players from nearly 20 countries and offered three days of high-level and emotional sports competition.

The event was organized in cooperation with the European Golf Association (EGA), the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA), and the Swedish Golf Federation. Bokskogen proved to be a perfect venue for a championship: the course was in top condition, the organization ran flawlessly, and the atmosphere was both warm and international.

Four Categories, Four Champions

History was made at the 2025 European Championships when champions were crowned in four different categories:

Standing:
Denmark’s Frederik Brokfelt-Christiansen controlled the competition from start to finish, winning by two strokes over Sweden’s Gustav Andersson. Norway’s Fredrik Fjaeraa took bronze.

Seated:
The Netherlands’ Richard Kluwen continued his dominant run, capturing his third consecutive European title — this time by an 11-stroke margin.

Intellectual (Cognitive):
Denmark earned its second gold medal through Casper Holst-Christensen, who won by eight strokes.

Visual (Visually Impaired):
Scotland’s Barry McCluskey celebrated the title, Spain’s Marc Oller Astort claimed silver, and Norway’s Mette Havnaas took bronze.

Brave Effort from the Finnish Players

Five Finnish players took part in the competition, all in the Standing category: Simo Kosunen, Teo Helander, Tero Peltola, Johannes Siikonen, and Tony Sivén.

  • Simo Kosunen was the best Finn, finishing tied for 39th with a total score of +48.
  • Teo Helander started strong with a round of 81 (+10) and after the first day was just one stroke away from his goal of breaking into the top 20. He eventually finished tied for 41st.
  • Tero Peltola placed 47th, Johannes Siikonen tied for 48th, and Tony Sivén finished 53rd.

While the Finnish results were not enough to challenge for the top positions this time, the team showed resilience and strong future potential. Especially Helander’s young age and steadily improving game offer hope for future success in the years to come.

Bokskogens Golf Club – The Perfect Stage

Bokskogens Golf Club is one of Sweden’s most renowned golf centers, offering two full 18-hole courses: the classic Gamla Banan and the more modern Kungsbanan. The competition was played on the Gamla Bana, which showed its very best side: lush park-like fairways, strategic bunkers, and fast greens that tested the players’ skills relentlessly yet fairly.

The late-August weather provided nearly perfect conditions: sunshine, mild temperatures, and only light winds. The course’s condition was praised across the board, especially the smoothness of the greens. Bokskogen’s location near Malmö made logistics easy, and the clubhouse’s modern facilities and accessible design ensured a smooth experience for all participants.

Organizational Success

The event’s organization received widespread praise: schedules were kept, volunteers created a welcoming atmosphere, and players felt truly appreciated. The award ceremony highlighted the theme of equality, as the champions of all four categories were celebrated equally.

EGA Chair Caroline Huyskes described the tournament as “a celebration of sport and inclusion,” and many players said it was one of the finest experiences of their careers.

Summary

The 2025 European Championships in Disabled Golf will be remembered in many ways: four categories with four champions, excellent organization, and the stunning Bokskogens Golf Club created a perfect setting for the competition. While the Finnish players did not reach the top spots this time, their participation brought valuable international experience and strengthened their prospects for the future.

On the green fairways of Bokskogen, the true essence of sport was on display — determination, skill, and togetherness.

Conclusion and own thoughts

Maybe this first picture above tells enough about my journey in the tournament. Tournament was held in beautiful and amazing Bokskogen Golf Club, Malmö. Stage was perfect for good scoring. Preparation went well, just the way how it was planned. I got the best support possible from my coaches Stenna Westerlund and Pasi Purhonen and our coach on site Janne Eskola and I felt ready. But as we all know, golf is a game that gives you a lot, but can be quite cruel too, especially then when you got punished because you are hitting ball too well and as we all know, usually that punishment comes with multiplied factor. It is not a one shot, it usually is 3 extra. Golf is momentum game, one week you can be top of the mountain, next week bottom of the valley. That is part of the game of golf. Everyone wants to play the best game of their life especially on big tournaments, but not even professionals can’t perform on peak level every week.

It wasn’t my week.

Understanding this makes it little bit easier to handle the massive disapointment I have for myself, not to be able to achieve those goals that I had set to myself. But.. it is easy just remember and bring up failures, but to be honest there was also extremely great shots, saves, some luck and especially great fighting and never give up attitude until the end.

Back to basics. Hard work continues.

Special thank you to Finnish Disabled Golfers (FDG) ry and my homeclub Master Golf Club of your massive support for making this tournament and journey possible. Thank you also, PING, EDGA, EGA, Bokskogen Golf Club and Fifh Malmö for making once again top level quality tournament.