Czech International Stroke Play Championship
Petr Halaburda, Pondělí 12. srpna 2019
The Czech International Stroke Play Championship is regarded as the highlight of the local amateur scene. This tournament, which classifies as a World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) event, constitutes one of the most prestigious tournaments in the Czech Republic.
The names of the tournament’s past winners speak for themselves. In 2008, Sandra Gal – who would later go on to win the professional LPGA Tour – seized the trophy. Klára Spolková, this year’s Ladies European Tour winner, dominated the years 2009 and 2010. Of course, one must not forget the 2010 men’s category winner Tyrrell Hatton, or Andy Sullivan who came third that year. Both Englishmen are consistent European Tour participants nowadays, Hatton having reached the elite top 20.
What makes this tournament so attractive for Czech amateurs is the fact that it presents one of the last remaining opportunities of qualifying for D+D REAL Czech Masters, a European Tour event held in the Czech Republic.
Czech International Amateur Championship presented by Raiffeisenbank tends to welcome about 150 participants from dozens of countries all around the globe. Not unlike most professional tournaments, it comprises four rounds; however, a cut only takes place after the third round.
This year in Karlovy Vary, Leon Breimer (Germany) and Hana Ryšková won in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.