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The second Golf Challenge between the Finnish and Swedish Chamber's of Commerce in Japan was this time won by Finland by a team total of 442 points against Sweden's 418 points.
44 players participated in the competition held at a long and challenging course, Ibaraki Golf Club in Ibaraki prefecture. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and this helped to create a very nice and friendly athmosphere, despite that many experience heavy congestion on their way to the course, almost delaying the start of the competition. As we this time played accoring to the Stableford points system, it was agreed that the top 80 % of each team would be calculated to the team score and as FCCJ was represented by 17 players this meant that the 14 highest points were included. From SCCJ, having 27 participants, their 22 best players were included in their team score and to get equal number of players in the total score we counted their no. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22. The average score for FCCJ was 31.57 points and for SCCJ 29.86. The winner of the individual competition was Alan Heggie of SCCJ with 40 points. He won the Finnair Business Class ticket to Scandinavia, and also the SCCJ Cup. Best FCCJ player was Atsushi Yamazaki (StoraEnso Japan K.K.), also with 40 points (but higher handicap) who came second in the overall results. No. 3 was FCCJ President Timo Varhama, who used this occassion to play the best round of his life with a gross score of 94 and 39 Stableford points. Eiji Takagi, the Program Committe chairman of SCCJ had again best gross, 81. Akihiro "Tiger' Takano of Finnair had the longest drive, almost 300 yards and the second best gross score, 82. Many thanks goes to all the prize donators, most notably Finnair, the title sponsor Stora Enso Japan who, in addition to the Cup also donated other prizes and provided caps for both teams, and Wilson Japan who donated a high-end golf driver, putter and a lot of golf balls. Last but not least we would like to thank SCCJ, and especially Clas Halling, for their support and good coopeation in organizing this event. Next challenge will be held in April, when SCCJ will be the organizers, and naturally they would then make an hard effort to take back the cup!  | ||
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44 players participated in the competition. Here in a group photo after the prize ceremony.
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The winning team, represented by (from left) FCCJ President Timo Varhama and the "Eero's Club" (Ambassador Eero Salovaara, StoraEnso Japan's President Eero Ala-Jaaski and Finnair's General Manager, Eero Tammila)
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The winner of the Finnair ticket to Scandinavia, and also winner of the SCCJ Cup, Alan Heggie with Eero Tammila.
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The biggest among many smiles; winner of the FCCJ Cup, Atsushi Yamazaki, StoraEnso, receives the cup from Timo Varhama.
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Drive & Fly. The winner also received a driver donated by Wilson Japan.
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Sun and a lot of green colors. A group waiting to tee-off on hole No. 5.
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The SCCJ team may have lost the cup but they have good manners. Here standing cheers for the FCCJ team.
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A bad sign? SCCJ members practising shots among the trees before the competition...
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