15 Jun 2009 at 09:47 | Published by: JJM | Views: 8179 | News search

Best players Oskari Vihervaara and Seija Björk.  (Photo by Arto Borg 2009)

Manse RG qualified to European Cup 2009, by winning men’s team competition at Finnish beton championships in Tampere. Manse RG played average 31.37, which was enough to leave Sibelius Park MGK on second place (average 32.03). The defending champion Taivallahden RGS was left on bronze with average 32.17, having lost its top player Kosti Salonen to Tantogården, and another top star Riku Pennanen to Finnish army service.

Manse RG won also women’s team competition, with a less impressive average 41.78. Botnia MGK was second in women’s team competition, with average 42.06. Finland has some quite skilled female players, but they are all scattered in different teams: Seija Björk in Sibelius Park MGK, Mirva Juhola in Taivallahden RGS, and Nina Mustonen & Mia Paavola in Helsingin RGK.

Junior player Oskari Vihervaara scored the best total score of all players, with average 28.83. The clear favourite Aki Sillman was left second in juniors, with average 30.00. Juuso Puolakkainen was third in juniors, with average 32.00.

Joni Rintala took gold in men’s competition with average 29.17, two points ahead of Jari Kinnunen (29.50). President of Finnish Minigolf Federation Iiro Tuomola took bronze with average 30.67.

Seija Björk won women’s competition with average 33.00, after a tied score and sudden death play-off against Mirva Juhola. Other top-class female players were not present in the tournament, so Päivi Iso-Oja picked the bronze medal with a modest average 40.67.

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