Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan

SWEDEN-FINLAND GOLF CHALLENGE, 15 April 2005

Venue:
Windsor Park G & C.C., Ibaraki Pref.
Team Result:
SCCJ 81.68 - FCCJ 82.11

RECAP

The 47 players pose for a group photo before start of play (click image for bigger version)

The Golf Challenge was again a very close competition. The Swedish Chamber Team had an average of 81.68 strokes and the Finnish Team 82.11, a margin of less than a half strokes per player. This was the fifth consecutive win for the SCCJ team.

For the second time the competition was played at the Windsor Park Golf & Country Club near Mito in Ibaraki prefecture. The course was in excellent condition and the service at the club second to none. This time though the course played more difficult than in the previous competition, the course superintendent had given us some very challenging pin positions, most notably on hole no. 7 where we could see many four, five or even six putts.

The individual winner (best net) was Naota Kusumi (FCCJ) with a net 69. Second was Miki Nakano with a net 71, and she was also the winner of the SCCJ Spring Cup. Third was Tomo Bystedt (FCCJ) with a net 72. He had the best gross score, 75, and also won the longest drive and a near pin. The winner of the SCCJ longest drive was Bengt Jönsson. Other near pin winners where Masahiro Kuroda (FCCJ), Fukashi Gejima (SCCJ) and Timo Varhama (FCCJ).

Even if FCCJ had five players among the top-six, the SCCJ won with a more even team, their worst score to be counted was 92, that of FCCJ was 94 (best 80% was counted in the team scores).

This time the event was organized by SCCJ in good cooperation with FCCJ. We would like to thank the title sponsor Stora Enso Japan, Titleist (Acushnet Japan) who again donated many fine prizes and all the others who brought nice prizes to the competition, and to UPM-Kymmene Japan who ensured that we did not run out of beer at the party. Our thanks go also to the Windsor Park G & C.C., Gordon Simmonds and Yusuke Kudo for again helping us making this a great event at very reasonable costs.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (top 21)
Pos.	Player	Company	Team	HCP	Gross	Net
1.	Naota Kusumi	Stora Enso Japan	FCCJ	28	97	69
2.	Miki Nakano	Silver-Stone Co., Ltd.	SCCJ	28	99	71
3.	Tomo Bystedt	Acushnet Japan	FCCJ	3	75	72
4.	Akihiro Takano	Finnair	FCCJ	10	84	74
5.	Kaj Forsell	Tekla Japan	FCCJ	18	93	75
	Toyoaki Uchida	UPM-Kymmene Japan	FCCJ	18	93	75
7.	Per Fredriksson	Nippon Ericsson	SCCJ	5	81	76
8.	Dayton Hughes	AMT Group	SCCJ	16	92	76
9.	Tuomo Kuuppo	Stora Enso Japan	FCCJ	22	98	76
10.	Pernille Storm	Oak Associates	SCCJ	24	100	76
11.	Iwao Takagi	Silver-Stone Co., Ltd.	SCCJ	25	101	76
12.	Patrik Melander	Nippon Ericsson	SCCJ	18	98	80
13.	George Fujii	Inter Associates	SCCJ	20	100	80
14.	Kjell Groth	AstraZeneca	SCCJ	20	100	80
15.	C.G. Eklund	Höganäs Japan	SCCJ	14	95	81
16.	Hans Porat	Gadelius	SCCJ	16	97	81
17.	Naoki Ikeda	Nippon Flakt	SCCJ	12	94	82
18.	Kagechika Matano	IKEA Japan	SCCJ	16	98	82
19.	Ian Hamilton	UPM-Kymmene Japan	FCCJ	18	100	82
20.	Hisatake Iwakura	Stora Enso Japan	FCCJ	28	110	82
21.	Satomi Kobayashi	Stora Enso Japan	FCCJ	36	118	82

Note: if players have same net, the one with lower handicap wins, if still same, the older player wins.

IMAGES FROM THE COMPETITION

Tuomo Kuuppo, President of Stora Enso Japan makes a greeting on behalf of the title sponsor.	Participants paying attention.
Swing studies of the top group from the first tee.
Carl-Gustaf Eklund with a powerful drive on No. 4	View of hole No. 5
Timo Varhama driving on No. 13, but is he aiming right>	Pernille Storm in some trouble on No. 18
Timo Varhama aiming left to avoid water.	Nice view of 18 green and the club house.
Two balls and Timo Varhama and Pernille Storm close to the water.	Pernille Storm putting on the 18th green.
Relaxed networking after a nice day on the course.	Stora Enso players enjoing some refreshments.
Master of ceremonies, Pernille Storm	Waiting for the results....
... more players waiting...	..and stil more.
Serious faces before the results ara announced.	.Enjoying the delicious party food.
Toyoaki Uchida has the desert table all for himself....	The happy winner, Naoto Kusumi.
Winner of the SCCJ Spring Cup, Miki Nakano,	Best gross and longest drive winner Tomo Bystedt.
Winner of the SCCJ longest drive, Bengt Jönsson.	Karl Pisor with the SCCJ boobie trophy.
Tuomo Kuuppo delivering the trophy to the winning Swedish team.	All smiles; from left Carl-Gustaf Eklund, Pernille Storm, Hans Porat and Tuomo Kuuppo.
Hans Porat giving the speech on behalf of the winners.	FCCJ President Mika Mäkinen on behalf of the loosing team; "the weather was great, course challenging and the atmosphere very friendly..."