Reflection on what happened in the week June 4th – June 10th 2012 in Golf in Iceland

At the beginning of this new year, 2013, Golf 1 will continue reflecting on a few of the highlights of the golfscene in Iceland last year, 2012 and we´ll start where we left of with a reflection on the week of June 4th – June 10th.

Icelandic golfers Þórður Rafn Gissurarson and Stefán Már Stefánsson both from Golfclub Reykjavík (abbrev. GR) competed in the Land Fleesensee Classic which is a tournament on the German EPD 3rd tier tour. The tournament was held in Fleesensee, Germany on June 5th -June 7th. Both of them made the cut and Þórður Rafn finished in 24th place and Stefán Már in 36th place.

Þórður Rafn Gissurarson on the Golf Course in the Westman Islands. Photo: Golf 1

At the exact same time, June 5th-June 7th one of Iceland´s most promising golfers, young Fannar Ingi Steingrímsson, from the Golfclub Hveragerði (abbrev. GHG) competed in a US Kids tournament, the European Championship in East Lothian, Scotland.  He finished in 33rd place of 46 in the age group of 13 yr old boys. Fannar Ingi might have been jet lagged since he competed on the weekend before on a tournament at Þverá golfcourse, which is part of the Icelandic Junior Tour sponsored by Arion bank .

Fannar Ingi Steingrímsson, GHG. Photo: Golf 1

In the meantime in Iceland another of Icelands extremely talented young golfstars, Gísli Sveinbergsson, 14 years old from the Golfclub Keilir in Hafnarfjörður, had holes in one two days in a row; the first on the golfcourse of Korpúlfsstaðir in Reykjavík (the par-3 16th hole) on June 7th and then the second at his homecourse in Hafnarfjörður i.e. the Keilir golfcourse also at the par-3 16th. No. 16 seemed to be Gísli s lucky number that week!!!

Birgir Leifur Hafþórsson one of Iceland´s ever increasing golf professionals, who is in the Golf Club of Kópavogur and Garðabær (abbrev. GKG)  participated in a golftournament on the European Challenge Tour, The Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda, held at the GC Klagenfurt- Seltenheim in Austria, June 7th-June 10th. Unfortunately he was 5 strokes from makeing the cut, with rounds of 3 over par 72 75.

Birgir Leifur Hafþórsson, GKG. Photo: Golf 1

The 2nd tournament on the Eimskip Series, where all of Iceland´s best golfers take part, took place at a favorite among most Icelandic golfers the Westman Islands golfcourse, on June 9th-June 10th. The ones who won the 2nd tournament of the Eimskip´s series were Berglind Björnsdóttir, who studies and plays on the golfteam of UNCG (University of North Carolina Greensboro) and Þórður Rafn Gissurarson. Sunna Víðisdóttir who now plays golf collegially at Elon in North Caroline claimed the 2nd spot in the tournament and set a new course record on the Westman Island golfcourse, 67 strokes from the blue tees (women´s tournament tees).

Berglind Björnsdóttir, GR and UNCG. Photo: Golf 1

Icelandic professional Ólafur Björn Loftsson and Kristján Þór Einarsson didn´t make the cut at the St. Andrews Golf Links in Scotland, held Friday June 7th-Sunday June 9th.

Kristján Þór Einarsson, GK and Ólafur Björn Loftsson, NK. Photo: gsimyndir.net

Among the golf tournaments held in Iceland on the weekend of June 7th-June 9th was a tournament held at the golfclub Siglufjörður (abbrev. GKS) in the North of Iceland, Sunday June 10th, where seasoned golfers (low handicappers) were paired with beginners (high handicappers) at the Seasoned/beginners tournament presented by Einars Ágústssonar & co. This was a 9 hole texas scramble tournament. The winners were Jóhann Már Sigurbjörnsson (seasoned) and Rúnar Óli Hjaltason (high handicapper) with 28 strokes netto.

The clubhouse of Golf Club Siglufjörður (GKS). Photo: Golf 1