The Swiss Hickory Open Championship 2023 was held on October 14th & 15th at Golfclub Lugano: A never seen alike hickory golf tournament in Switzerland  featured almost a dozen former and upcoming professionals – led by former Italian Ryder Cup player Costantino Rocca, the Austrian DP world tour player Markus Brier, the French longtime European tour member and current senior tour player Raphael Jaquelin and the Swiss hickory golf legend Paolo Quirici. The player field was extended by a selection of strong amateurs.

The golf club Lugano, that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, was the ideal host combining the celebration with a traditional hickory golf tournament. The golf course presented itself in superb condition and challenged the players with lightning fast greens and tough pin positions.

The 4 headliners of the tournament scored within 4 shots on the first day and promised an exciting final second day. Here the local professional and multiple Swiss Champion Paolo Quirici left a margin to the rest of the field with a brillant level par final round and a total score of +1 to once again claim the title. The large ladies field was led by Carmen Sagarra from Golfclub Niederbüren who claimed the title after a tie with Szilvia Karpati at 25 Brut Points.

 

A great highlight of the event was the opening Skins game that featured Costantino Rocca, Markus Brier, Raphael Jaquelin and the uprising Swiss professional Fiorino Clerici. The old master and Ryder Cup legend Rocca showed some magic hands on the last green where he holed a 12-footer for birdie and secured a large part of the prize pot of 5’000 CHF.

 

Hickory Golf has claimed popularity in Switzerland and this years edition with almost 90 players from 8 countries is the largest so far. The complete entourage extended by a large number of spectators celebrated both ladies and mens winning flights on the last hole in good old fashion clothes, large camaraderie in an enchanting atmosphere.

 

We thank all participants, supporters, sponsors and particularly the host Golfclub Lugano.