| WC: Germany takes the gold |
| The Germans played it well: bringing home the gold for both the men and women in the team category. For the women: the Austrians came out just behind to take home the silver, leaving third to Sweden. Men: Sweden followed Germany and Switzerland found itself in third |
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(08/25/07)
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A triumph for Germany on all sides for the team category of the 2007 edition of the Minigolf World Championships. The men’s team had the gold from the beginning, while the women’s team came out on top thanks to an unforeseen final sprint. However, Italy faced a letdown, after a good start, the team lost ground in the final rounds receiving a classification of fourth for the men and sixth for the women.
As for the men’s part of this competition, nothing went wrong for the Germans who got off to a perfect start in the first two days, finally taking the gold with their winning score of 1215 strokes. «The men’s team has done a great job –comments Reinhard Neitzke, head of mission for the German team-. They played perfectly the first and second day, not committing any errors. Today was a bit problematic, their playing was not perfect, but it was still very good. I’m very happy with the victory: there is a great team spirit among the players, as you can see from their results». Leading the team are the Elbruch brothers, Harald and Walter, who help pull the team forward. Harald, who is already the European Champion, also has intentions of taking home the title of World Champion in the men’s category, which will be played out later today.
Following Germany was Sweden, which took second place with 1231 strokes, and third went to Switzerland with a grand total of 1256 strokes. Italy, disappointed about not making
it on the podium, made a few too many errors in the last round costing them the bronze. «We just missed placing in the top three –confirms the president of the Italian Minigolf Federation, Giuliano Banfi-. However we still have tomorrow to see if one or more of the team can place in the individual category. There will be 5 Italians in the finals so we still can continue to hope for a place on the podium».
And now the women- a category which also claims a German victory. After two days of so-so playing, the Germans, led by Bianca Oberweg, took the gold with their outstanding playing and perfect rounds on the final day. Germany won with 645 strokes, battling the Austrians who took second with 650, and just behind, taking the bronze was the Swiss with 651 strokes.
On Saturday the Relax Time courses will host the final battle between the top 32 men and top 16 women for the individual title of World Champion. The formula used for this one last encounter will be direct elimination, so anything can happen and all can be changed. And like in tennis, the pairs will be coupled according to their classifications; the first against the last in the classifications, the second against the second-to last and so on.
Final Team Classifications, men: 1) Germany (1215 strokes); 2) Sweden (1231); 3) Switzerland (1238)
Final Team Classifications, women: 1) Germany (645); 2) Austria (650); 3) Sweden (651)
Men
individual classifications: Harald Elbruch (Germany), Daniel Klosek (Germany), Vitus Spescha (Switzerland), Marco Templin (Germany), Rudy Giroldini (Italy), Anders Olsson (Sweden), Lars Brown (Sweden), Jonas Gustafsson (Sweden), Philipp Albrechtsberger (Austria), Francesco Leuci (Italy), Christian Freilach (Italy), Christian Freilach (Austria), Michel Rhyn (Switzerland) Pierre Zetterlund (Sweden), Walter Elbruch (Germany), Marcus Larsson (Sweden), Marco Balzer (Germany), Remo Zaugg (Switzerland), Alexander Geist (Germany), Omar Maggi (Switzerland), Samuel Hofer (Switzerland), Markus Berger (Austria), Linus Sundström (Sweden), Mike Mann (Switzerland), Bernd Gaida (Austria), Roberto Garbui (Italy), Alex Jasper (Netherlands), Christian Gobetz (Austria), Kosti Salonen (Finland), Achim Braungart-Zink (Germany) Manfred Lindmayr (Austria), Massimiliano Crespi (Italy), Riccardo Simonetta (Italy).
Women individual classifications:: Sandra Nordin (Sweden), Elisabeth Gruber (Austria), Melanie Blaser (Switzerland), Bianca Oberweg (Germany), Nicole Piechotta (Germany), Sandra Wicki (Switzerland), Karin Wiklund (Sweden), Natasja Klarenbeek (Netherlands), Nicole Gundert-Greiffendorf (Germany), Rebecca Weber (Switzerland), Sara Marchiani (Italy), Andrea Hackl (Austria), Jana Nakládalová (Czech Republic), Tryntsje Schakel (Netherlands), Karoline Karlsson (Sweden), Alice Kobisch (Germany)
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