Disc Golf Champions Crowned at European Championships in Croatia
Date Published
The 2018 European Disc Golf Championships came to a close on Saturday in Toplice Sveti Martin, Croatia, after a thrilling competition that saw players from across the continent battling for gold, silver, and bronze. The biennial tournament brought together some of Europe's finest disc golfers, with a total of six different nations claiming victory.
Finland proved to be one of the dominant forces at the championships, with 10 medals in their tally. However, it was not just Finland that shone – players from Estonia, Czech Republic, and Croatia all tasted victory for the first time, demonstrating a truly pan-European spread of talent.
In the Open division, Simon Lizotte emerged as the champion, taking down his second European title in impressive fashion. Despite a few wobbles early on, where his lead dropped to just four shots, Lizotte found his rhythm and momentum swung back in his favor from hole 12 onwards. He went on to crush his drive and approach on the par-5 13th, before sinking an eagle putt on the sloping green – a move that sealed his victory.
Finland's Seppo Paju took second place, while Väinö Mäkelä finished comfortably in third. The Open Women's division saw 18-year-old Henna Blomroos claim victory, extending her lead to six shots before teammate Eveliina Salonen narrowed the gap to just two. However, Blomroos held her nerve and went on to win the title.
The Masters category saw France's Sylvain Gouge emerge victorious after a nail-biting two-hole playoff against Finland's Janne Hirsimäki. Sweden's Hasse Tegebäck cruised home in the Grandmasters division, while Olle Samuelsson and Natalie Holloköi from Sweden and Switzerland respectively, overcame deficits to claim their titles.
The championships also saw some impressive performances from younger players, with Finland's Maria Asikainen dominating the FJ18 category and Czech's Bohdan Bílek taking gold in MJ18. The young Czech player averaged an incredible 1018-rated golf score, holding off Finland's Oskari Vikström by a significant margin.
As the championships drew to a close, organizers extended their gratitude to Tournament Director Dinko Šimenc and his team of volunteers from Croatia for putting on a fantastic event. Attendees also expressed their appreciation for Jussi Meresmaa and The SpinTV, who live-streamed the final holes and are now working on post-production videos.
Finally, as players headed home, they were left with the memories of an incredible week of disc golf competition – and the promise that next year's championships will be just as exciting.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/european-champions-crowned-croatia