Hogan captures title at 2013 Speedgolf World Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

October 27, 2013 by Bandon Dunes

BANDON, Ore. – Under rainless skies and calm winds, Rob Hogan of Ireland bested a field of 25 professional speed golfers to capture the title at the 2013 Speedgolf World Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

The 36-hole championship began Saturday at the resort’s Old Macdonald course, where Hogan jumped out to the midway lead with a 77 in 39 minutes and 31 seconds (39:31). He continued his momentum Sunday at the resort’s Bandon Dunes course with a 79 in 41:29. Hogan had the fastest time both days.

The scoring format of Speedgolf is total strokes, plus total minutes and seconds it takes the player to complete his or her round. Hogan’s final Speedgolf score was 236.55.

“This is absolutely massive for me,” Hogan said. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of the past year, something I’ve worked really hard for. I got into a couple dodgy situations today, but I’m really proud because I stayed calm and got through it without too much damage.”

Eri Crum, Boise, Idaho finished runner-up (no pun intended) after shooting an 80 in 45:03 and a 73 in 44:31. Third place went to Matt Dehlin, Portland, Ore., who shot 78 in 46:06 and 78 in 48:00.

The field included two Olympic track and field athletes.

Bernard Lagat, Tucson, Ariz., won the 2007 world championship in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters. Despite being a beginner golfer – this was his first golf tournament of any kind – Lagat logged the sixth-fastest time Saturday and fourth-fastest time Sunday.

“Regardless of my Speedgolf score, it was an honor and privilege to be invited to participate in this wonderful championship,” Lagat said.

Nick Willis, New Zealand, won the silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He entered the final round of this championship in sixth place after an opening round 86 in 44:20, but slipped to 13th place after a final round 97 in 43:07.

Defending Speedgolf world champion Christopher Walker, Woodlands, Tex., entered the final round in fourth place after an opening round 74 in 52:26. The former Notre Dame golf team captain finished the championship with a Sunday round of 73 in 51:12 to finish fourth.

The field also included an 18-hole amateur division of 26 speed golfers.

Final full-field results:
PRO DIVISION

1 Rob Hogan 77 + 39:31 = 116.31 || 79 + 41:24 = 120.24 || 236.55
2 Eri Crum 80 + 45:03 = 125.03 || 73 + 44:31 = 117.31 || 242.34
3 Matt Dehlin 78 + 46:06 = 124.06 || 78 + 48:00 = 126 || 250.06
4 Chris Walker 74 + 52:26 = 126.26 || 73 + 51:12 = 124.12 || 250.38
5 Scott Dawley 77 + 51:43 = 128.43 || 74 + 50:56 = 124.56 || 253.39
6 Scott Manley 80 + 50:25 = 130.25 || 78 + 48:12 = 126.12 || 256.37
7 Allan Phillips 84 + 48:10 = 132.10 || 80 + 45:09 = 125.09 || 257.19
8 Christopher Smith 78 + 58:29 = 136.29 || 72 + 55:29 = 127.29 || 263.58
9 David Denyer 78 + 54:39 = 132.39 || 76 + 55:36 = 131.36 || 264.15
10 Tim Hval 81 + 54:49 = 135.49 || 77 + 52:53 = 129.53 || 265.42
11 Jamie Young 85 + 48:04 = 133.04 || 85 + 49:58 = 134.58 || 268.02
12 Pete Phipps 83 + 52:27 = 135.27 || 79 + 54:39 = 133.39 || 269.06
13 Nick Willis 86 + 44:20 = 130.20 || 97 + 43:07 = 140.07 || 270.27
14 Jaacob Bowden 85 + 59 = 144 || 72 + 55:42 = 127.42 || 271.42
15 David Marshall 84 + 54.27 = 138.27 || 82 + 51:50 = 133.5 || 272.17
16 Tim Scott 83 + 50.34 = 133.34 || 85 + 54:23 = 139.23 || 272.57
17 Scott Gerweck 88 + 50.04 = 138.04 || 85 + 51:07 = 136.07 || 274.11
18 Larry Levinson 80 + 60 = 140 || 76 + 58:29 = 134.29 || 274.29
19 Shanon Hoyt 87 + 50.27 = 137.27 || 83 + 54:18 = 137.18 || 274.45
20 Paul Kivela 92 + 51.28 = 143.28 || 85 + 47:58 = 132.58 || 276.26
21 Ralph Reahard 78 + 66.05 = 144.05 || 75 + 64:30 = 139.3 || 283.35
22 Karl Meltzer 89 + 55.11 = 144.11 || 89 + 50:56 = 139.56 || 284.07
23 Dougal Williams 94 + 54.16 = 148.16 || 84 + 53:35 = 137.35 || 285.51
24 Bernard Lagat 118 + 48.26 = 166.26 || 110 + 47:38 = 157.38 || 324.04
25 Jay Larson 89 + 58.05 = 147.05 || W/D || W/D

AMATEUR DIVISION

24 Years and Younger
1 Ben Stickney Portland, Ore. 81 + 53:54 = 134.54
2 Brenden Edelson Portland, Ore. 76 + 64:38 = 140.38
3 Walter Sherry Portland, Ore. 82 + 60:21 = 142.21
4 Rob McVicker Coos Bay, Ore. 87 + 60:02 = 147.02
5 Boyce Whitesides Atlanta, Ga. 86 + 62:02 = 148.02
6 Morgan Cho Portland, Ore. 96 + 60:53 = 156.53

25-39
1 Jon Hottinger Richmond, Va. 77 + 60:36 = 137.36
2 Brent Schneider Midlothian, Va. 83 + 54:52 = 137.52
3 Bryce Polovnikoff Vancouver, WA 79 + 60:29 = 139.29
4 Eric Arndt Bend, Ore. 85 + 60:02 = 145.20
5 Tucker Mcneil Richmond, Va. 82 + 64:29 = 146.29
6 Kirk Tattersall Richmond, Va. 86 + 62:13 = 148.13
7 Scott Millhouser Coquille, Ore. 90 + 69:46 = 159.46
8 Baker Shogry San Francisco, Calif. 99 + 60:54 = 159.54

40-49
1 Brian Noble Johns Creek, Ga. 85 + 59:47 = 144.47
2 Josh Sens Oakland, Calif. 85 + 67:41 = 152.41
3 Wally English Berkeley, Calif. 90 + 66:55 = 156.55
4 Katy Williams Portland, Ore. 97 + 72:36 = 169.36
5 Virginia Deigan Canberra, Australia 106 + 76:12 = 182.12
6 John Gunther Coquille, Ore. 135 + 71:45 = 206.45

50+
1 David Harding Lake Oswego, Ore. 89 + 54:11 = 143.11
2 Gary Sobczak Avon, Ind. 95 + 62:01 = 157.10
3 Fred Tattersall Richmond, Va. 87 + 74:17 = 161.17
4 Gray Grieve Eugene, Ore. 84 + 78:48 = 162.48
5 Ted Stein Pelham Manor, N.Y. 94 + 77:36 = 171.36
6 Mike Cooney Beaverton, Ore. 107 + 68:46 = 175.46

Elite runners and golfers to compete for 2013 Speedgolf World Championship, October 26-27 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

October 10, 2013 by Bandon Dunes

BANDON, Ore. – In just its second year of existence, the Speedgolf World Championship has assembled an elite field of 55 speed golfers from six different countries who will vie for the 2013 title at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on October 26-27.

The field has several marquee competitors, including two Olympic track and field athletes. Nick Willis, New Zealand, won the silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Bernard Lagat, Tucson, Ariz., won the 2007 world championship in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters.

Defending Speedgolf world champion Christopher Walker, Woodlands, Tex., returns to defend his title. The former Notre Dame golf team captain is pursuing a professional golf career through the mini-tour circuit.

The format of Speedgolf is simple: Total strokes plus the total minutes and seconds it takes the player to complete his or her round. At last year’s world championship Walker shot 77 in 53:29 in Round 1, and 76 in 56:59 in Round 2 for a two-day total of 263.28.

The Speedgolf world record for a single round is 109.06 (65 in 44:06), set by Christopher Smith, Portland, Ore., at the 2005 Chicago Speedgolf Classic. Smith is also in this year’s field.

“We are incredibly excited for this year's championship,” said Timothy Scott, executive director of Speedgolf International. “The quality and depth of the field this year is unprecedented in Speedgolf history. And where else would you rather contest this championship than at Bandon Dunes?”

The field is divided into two divisions: Pro/Elite (30 players, 36 holes) and Age-Groupers (25 players, 18 holes). The Pro/Elite group plays Round 1 on Saturday, October 26 on the Old Macdonald course, with Round 2 on Sunday, October 27 on the Bandon Dunes course. The Age-Groupers field plays Sunday only, on the Bandon Dunes course.

Saturday tee times are 7:55 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. PDT; Sunday tee times are 7:55 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PDT.

The championship is webcast live on Oomba.tv at 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PDT both days. The same coverage can also be seen on BandonDunesGolf.com.

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About Bandon Dunes Founded in 1999 by Chicago businessman and philanthropist Mike Keiser, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is home to four 18-hole courses and a 13-hole par-3 course. The foursome of Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails and Old Macdonald gives the resort the distinction of being the only property with four courses ranked in the top half of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in America. Bandon Preserve is one of the most highly-acclaimed par-3 courses in America, and 100% of its net proceeds benefit the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, an organization that funds projects on the southern coast of Oregon that are committed to conservation, community and economy.