It was under a magnificent sun that the last round of the French Open Handigolf took place, won by the Englishman Mark smith.

  • Awards ceremony: Mark Smith winner - Photo: DR

Mark smith (amputee of the right leg) wins the tournament with the score of 161 (82 yesterday and 79 today) for a total of 10 strokes above Par.

“It was a difficult weekend but a good weekend! I end my tournament with a birdie at 18, I am very happy. I've been coming to this tournament for 15 years and it's the first time I've won. This victory is very important to me ”.

In second place, the youngest player in the tournament, the Belgian Adem WAHBI, 17 years old (with diplegia BMI from birth, Moral and Cerebral Impairment) with the total score of 163 (84 & 79).

“I started badly the first 9 holes, I do a double bogey at hole 1. On the way back, I'm really good. I am -1 at the start of the 16th. I drop badly at the 16th to finish 8 on the hole (Par 4). This is the 3rd year that I finished in second place, I am very disappointed but happy to have played here this week in St Omer ”.

The best French is Mathieu CAUNEAU, the 3rd  tied with the Belgian Cedric LESCUT (winner of the 2015 edition).

Mathieu CAUNEAU is 2016 French Champion and won the Jean-Claude Bavière Trophy, awarded to the best French player in Brut, all categories combined, in memory of the first president of the handigolf commission at the Federation.

“My day didn't start very well. I was under a lot of pressure from the media and the public. I struggled to get into the game. I am very satisfied to be Champion of France again. The course in St Omer is fabulous, the greens are fantastic, I congratulate the greenkeeper and his team of gardeners for the job done. I also congratulate Mark Smith on his well-deserved victory, he played very well ”

The winners in 2rd and 3rd series are respectively Ahmet OZYAZICI (Turkey) & Richard SAUNDERS (GB).

A word from the President, Jean-Jacques Durand: “The contract with the French Golf Federation for the organization of the French Open Handigolf expiring this year and not being a priori renewed, Jean-Jacques Durand announced during the award ceremony, the maintenance of his commitment to handigolf. In 2017, we will organize a Handigolf tournament open to all, no index limit, all levels and all nationalities will be welcome. With the help of the Nord Pas de Calais region and department, I will pursue this objective which has been so dear to my heart for over 15 years: to improve the lives of people with disabilities. "

To view the final ranking: Final classification Open de France Handigolf 1st SERIE,  Final classification 2nd SERIES, Final classification 3nd SERIES

To know more : handigolf.fr