18/11/2022
2022 Jengin Mestis Kytäjä Golf South East August 13
Champion Golfer Kimmo Kemppi (-2)
The 28th Jengin Mestis was played at a new time in mid August and we had a fabulous bunch of 10 players this year! JM was also played in a new course. Kytäjä Golf is a leading Finnish golf resort with two full 18 hole championship courses 12km west from Hyvinkää. Two years ago we played the North West course (teebox 60) but this time we took the South East (teebox 55).
1st flight was Samuli S, Epa and Eero, followed by Jussi, Sami and Samuli T. Final four were Martsa, Kimmo, Hessu and Mikko. The weather was very summery, +25C and sunny. Especially at the front nine the hills took a toll on the players and partly on the scores as well.
Front nine kept the pack pretty tight with Kimmo shooting 19 points, gross +1 with two bogeys and a birdie, followed by Martsa 18 and Jussi 17 points. Front nine saw some up and downs and the overall scoring was pretty poor due to the hot conditions and hilly terrain. Kytäjä layout tested the players, especially around the greens which were in good condition, fast but not too slippery.
Back nine is more even, pretty flat actually and goes around the Kytäjä lake. Samuli and Epa played excellent golf on the back nine with 20 points each. Epa's "boring" back nine was a streak of nine par's! Samuli birdied the 18th but had also two bogeys. The second group didn't quite get into the flow zone and their positions at the leaderboard slid down a bit. Boys finished within one shot of each other, Jussi and Sami +5 and Samuli +6. The last group was following the status of the earlier players and the closer to the end they got, it was up to two players, Kimmo and Martsa, whom were the only players in red digits. On the last tee (par 5 with water on the left side) it was clear that Martsa would win with a birdie. Both players took on the drivers and got their balls in play and eventually found the green in regulation. Martsa had a long 15m downhill side break put to win the championship, while Kimmo had half the distance coming from the other side of the hole slightly uphill. Martsa went with a flow and incredibly sank his putt! Kimmo finished with a par and great round of 73 shots (38 pb). Eventually, that was enough for him to win the 1st JM championship, since Martsa was penalized with 2 strokes when hit Hessu's ball with his put on the 13th hole. Congratulations for Kimmo on a great round and 1st ever JM trophy victory!
Prices were awarded after lunch at Kytäjä's clubhouse terrace in a superior Finnish summer weather. John Daly was Eero (11th hole, very long) and Tom Watson Kimmo (10th hole, 4.55m). Thank you for all golfers and gamebook followers!
