2014 Kytäjä Club Tour
The 2014 KCT season saw a mixture of familiar names and fresh faces in the top 30 after the qualifying period was over, but one notable trend was "the rise of the caddiemaster" with Vellu Hakala leading the way in the KCT points race after a strong season which included significant amounts of points scored across the board (club championship, matchplay competitions, monthly competition and kytäjä trophy). This consistently high level of performance from an improving player earned him more points than anyone else. Mari Velama was also flying the flag for the caddiemasters, her strong performances in the matchplay competitions contributing to her 6th place in the rankings.
The ladies section of the club also made their mark on the KCT Order of Merit with six ladies finishing in the top 30 and eleven ladies finishing in the top 50.
The top 30 players qualify for the KCT Tour Championship, where the points totals are reset in the same way as the FedEx Cup so that all participants in the event have a mathematical chance of winning.
The ladies section of the club also made their mark on the KCT Order of Merit with six ladies finishing in the top 30 and eleven ladies finishing in the top 50.
The top 30 players qualify for the KCT Tour Championship, where the points totals are reset in the same way as the FedEx Cup so that all participants in the event have a mathematical chance of winning.
Mari Velama triumphs in the KCT Tour Championship!
The 2014 KCT Tour Championship was played in beautiful
weather... which was unfortunately hidden from view by thick fog for the first
hour of play. The on course conditions were a bit tricky thanks to a lot of
surface moisture and the millions of little stones which have been applied to
the fairways. These conditions, combined with "winter rules" not
being in place, made it very difficult to strike the ball cleanly from the
fairways on a consistent basis.
Another "interesting" challenge for the competitors was provided by the pin position on the 2nd hole, in the middle of the steep slope at the front of the green. Any putts from level with or past the hole had two possible results, either it was "in" or it was "off the green". Only two players managed better than a six on that hole. A phone call to the greenkeepers ensured that nobody else had to play to that pin position after the final KCT group left the green, a more sensible back-left hole location was made for the rest of the days golfers.
The player who managed to cope best with the challenges of the day was Mari Velama who ended up with a very respectable net score of 72 (gross 96). Mari, a master photographer, excellent caddiemaster and almost matchplay expert (losing finalist in three matchplay competitions in 2014), recovered from a horrible nine at the "short but deadly" 5th hole to be in such a good position that she could afford " a few chips" on the 18th without losing her place at the top of the leaderboard.
Andy Fowlie finished one shot behind after a round which started nastily with a double bogey at the first but after that contained 4 bogeys, 8 pars and 5 birdies for a net score of 73 (gross 72).
Esa Hänninen was the only other player to come close to playing to his handicap, recovering from 4 sixes in the first 5 holes to post a net score of 74 (gross 86).
Another "interesting" challenge for the competitors was provided by the pin position on the 2nd hole, in the middle of the steep slope at the front of the green. Any putts from level with or past the hole had two possible results, either it was "in" or it was "off the green". Only two players managed better than a six on that hole. A phone call to the greenkeepers ensured that nobody else had to play to that pin position after the final KCT group left the green, a more sensible back-left hole location was made for the rest of the days golfers.
The player who managed to cope best with the challenges of the day was Mari Velama who ended up with a very respectable net score of 72 (gross 96). Mari, a master photographer, excellent caddiemaster and almost matchplay expert (losing finalist in three matchplay competitions in 2014), recovered from a horrible nine at the "short but deadly" 5th hole to be in such a good position that she could afford " a few chips" on the 18th without losing her place at the top of the leaderboard.
Andy Fowlie finished one shot behind after a round which started nastily with a double bogey at the first but after that contained 4 bogeys, 8 pars and 5 birdies for a net score of 73 (gross 72).
Esa Hänninen was the only other player to come close to playing to his handicap, recovering from 4 sixes in the first 5 holes to post a net score of 74 (gross 86).
Mari also wins the overall Kytäjä Club Tour for 2014!
Mari's win in the KCT Tour Championship also took her to overall victory in the 2014 Kytäjä Club Tour and she will collect the handsome silver trophy when it is presented at the prizegiving on October 4th. Kytäjä's ladies also managed to take the second position in the KCT with Susanna Matero-Gört (second in the rankings before the final, 4th in the final) staying comfortably ahead of third placed Esa Hänninen, the leading man. Andy Fowlie was 4th and Vellu Hakala was 5th (in case of a tie in the total points after the KCT Tour Championship, the player with the better finishing position in the KCT Tour Championship "wins").
It was, once again, unfortunate to see that so many of the top 30 players chose not to participate in the KCT Tour Championship and some changes to the event are being considered for 2015 as a result. Those players who did participate seemed to rather enjoy themselves and it was great to see the excitement on the face of the winner once the results were confirmed.
Congratulations to 2014 KCT winner Mari Velama!
It was, once again, unfortunate to see that so many of the top 30 players chose not to participate in the KCT Tour Championship and some changes to the event are being considered for 2015 as a result. Those players who did participate seemed to rather enjoy themselves and it was great to see the excitement on the face of the winner once the results were confirmed.
Congratulations to 2014 KCT winner Mari Velama!