Fraser Mann Wins 2017 World Hickory Open
/An unbylined East Lothian Courier report says former Musselburgh pro Fraser Mann has taken the 2017 title with rounds of 70-71 to edge Rick Valentine by four strokes.
The World Hickory organizers shared this in their game story by Ginny Lawson:
As in past years, the field reflected most of the best exponents of hickory golf in the world. Indeed, the organisers were delighted with support from more than a dozen countries. Out of the 120 competitors, 28 arrived from Switzerland, where their game is centred on Engadine near St Moritz, where members also tend indulge in toboggan racing in the winter on the infamous Cresta Run. But don’t be bluffed by these remarkable facts, the Swiss are serious hickory golf experts. For example, Paolo Quirici is one of the top seeds this year, and he was Championship winner in 2013.
It also true that the game is sufficiently challenging to eliminate the wanabes. Indeed 80% have competed in the past. That said, the game continues to grow in this extraordinary but incredibly beautiful new location of Scotland’s Golf Coast.
Sweden is the other European country to embrace hickory golf at a very accomplished level. With literally thousands playing the game back home. The World Hickory welcomed 19 of them this year.
The next largest team was not unsurprisingly from the USA, where former champ and one the world’s best known known hickory adherents, former US champion Mike Stevens, comes from. In addition, England led by Andrew Marshall from Norfolk has been well represented this year. Andrew was our Open champion at Carnoustie in 2015. Other nations entered included both Austria, Denmark and another half dozen countries, emphasising the rapid growth of the game at a European level.
Whilst Fraser Man was one of those representing Scotland, a small team of talented international junior golfers from Loretto’s much vaunted Golf Academy, led by former Hickory Champion Rick Valentine have also been playing this week.
The World Hickory Open was played with original or pre-1936 replica hickory shafted clubs. The 2017 edition took place at East Lothian's marvelous Kilspindie Golf Club, a must visit on the East Lothian trail.
Neil Hanna captured this wonderful image:
