Thirty-four European players from 14 countries created a magnificent highlight of the G4D international season during the 2025 RSM European Play-Offs held at North Hants Golf Club from September 9-11.
Players had qualified through the World Ranking from across the disability spectrum (physical, intellectual and sensory) to contest for championship trophies in four divisions: Gross, Nett, Stableford – open to male and female qualifiers – and for the second year a women’s category to help to grow the numbers of female competitors at this level.
Amid the focused competition, a common theme also shone through – the exhibition of great sportsmanship and camaraderie while under the intense pressure of the finals.
This ethos mirrors so many of the 130-plus EDGA badged, run or supported G4D tournaments around the world, where established G4D golfers welcome brand new, sometimes nervous, first-time players to a competition circuit that allows many golfers to enjoy international events relatively close to home.
In the fifth year that leading audit, tax, and consulting firm RSM UK lent its support to the event, the 2025 field contained 11 female players out of 34, a ratio EDGA wishes to grow next year, while the feeling of inclusion was further enhanced when those players defeated in the first round of matches competed in an additional group team competition.
High level competition
Ten of the week’s matchplay fixtures finished on the 18th green or needed extra play-off holes to find a winner: chip-ins, monster putts and gritty comebacks set the standard as North Hants GC’s excellent fairways and greens coped admirably with the capricious Autumn weather conditions.
Nineteen-year-old Danish player Frederik Brokfelt-Christiansen, who has scoliosis of the spine and plays off +0.17, had to watch in wonder as Scotland’s Gordon Mclay, 63, a lower-leg amputee, birdied the 17th and then eagled the par-4 18th by holing his second shot from the light rough, winning a match played out in intense drama but always great spirit. Frederik’s response was to shoot a stunning gross 64 in the next day’s team competition which was ratified as a new North Hants course record from the silver tees.
Women’s winner Nick Weeks
England’s Nicky Weeks would go on to win the women’s category but nearly didn’t make it past the first round when on the 14th green she watched friend and fellow countrywoman Martine Gilks’s enormous 40-foot curving putt from off the green drop into the cup. Nicky would survive and go on to claim the trophy against highly popular Netherlands player Mascha Bos, in a match score of 5&4. Nicky, who has multiple sclerosis, said: “Sometimes you get all the good bounces and breaks and I did today. Mascha played some fantastic golf with no luck and I played well. I’m delighted with the result, and huge thanks to EDGA, RSM and everyone at North Hants Golf Club.”
Mehmet Kazan of Turkey, who has a hip impairment and curvature of the spine, beat Oliver Hirst-Greenham, England, in the Gross final, in a match score also of 5&4. Mehmet thanked all the players for their encouragement and was “very proud and honoured” with the win. Oliver praised Mehmet’s “amazing consistency; Mehmet is a lovely man and really tough opponent, who fully deserved his victory”.
Duo of Italian winners
In the Stableford division, Giulia Marabotti, aged 19 of Italy, beat Kimmo Sirviö, a seated player from Finland, with a score of 3&2. Giulia, who was born with Achondroplasia, which causes short stature, said of her victory: “I am so happy, after coming runner-up last year and being so close, to come back and win, it means so much. Well played to Kimmo who played a great match. I’d like to thank all my friends, I’d had a difficult six months and they have all been so supportive.”
Nett Champion Alessandro Petrianni of Italy, who grew up with no lower left arm, edged ahead of Ellen Larsen, Norway, 4&3. Alessandro said: “Congratulations to Ellen, she is a really great player, and thank you to everyone who has supported me. Thank you also and congratulations to all the players, EDGA and RSM, who made this a wonderful event.”
Support from RSM
EDGA Tournament Director Marjon Thijssen said: “All the players deserve great credit for competing in this tournament with so much passion to win, while also showing such a feeling of spirit and friendship. That’s what makes EDGA so special to me. I’d like to thank everyone at RSM for their encouragement, everyone at North Hants GC for their support, and of course the entire EDGA team. We do it together.”
Nick Sladden, Partner and EDGA Advocate at RSM UK, said: “We were thrilled to support EDGA’s latest event at North Hants Golf Club. Our involvement in the Play-off Series has allowed us to witness first-hand the positive impact that golf can have on people with disabilities and will hopefully go a long way in inspiring others to take up the sport.”
Due to the support of RSM, all the players were able to spread awareness of G4D and tell their personal stories when they joined 18 invited RSM teams for a special final day golf challenge, which raised additional donations for EDGA. (EDGA is a not-for-profit organisation that support 50 golf federations and advises The R&A, the DP World Tour, the EGA and others on all things G4D.
EDGA President Tony Bennett said: “This is always a special event on the EDGA calendar, and I was delighted for the players that they enjoyed it so much. Thank you again to the whole team at RSM. The European Play-offs have become a magnificent highlight of the season, embodying what EDGA wants as we encourage golfers with a disability to thrive through the power of golf. In recent times, partners like RSM have really helped push G4D forward, and it’s great that these partners have also gained a great deal from supporting G4D; RSM helping us with inclusive tournaments, player research, and local golf projects, while we in turn have trained many of their volunteers in community outreach work to help bring golf for the disabled to a wider player base.”
RESULTS OF FINAL MATCHES IN FOUR DIVISIONS
GROSS: Mehmet Kazan, Turkey, beat (5&4) Oliver Hirst-Greenham, England
NETT: Alessandro Petrianni, Italy, beat (4&3) Ellen Larsen, Norway
STABLEFORD: Giulia Marabotti, Italy, beat (3&2) Kimmo Sirviö, Finland
WOMEN: Nicky Weeks, England, beat (5&4) Mascha Bos, Netherlands.