World Amateur Match Race Official Tournament Magazine / ISSUE 3_2022

MARCH 2022 | ISSUE 3

TOP 20 COUNTRIES NEW REGISTRATIONS IN MARCH 2022

YOUR WAY TO REACH THE FINAL IN DUBAI

GUEST PROFILE MADS VIBE-HASTRUP Golf Professional

TEAM PROFILE OF THE MONTH JAMES VOCE & JOHN ASPINALL FROM ENGLAND

IN THIS ISSUE

"John Aspinall and James Voce from England"

6 TEAM PROFILE

14 COUNTRY REPORT

8 INTERVIEW - JEFF PAULSON

16 TOP 20 COUNTRIES IN 2022

James Voce & John Aspinall from England

Jeff Paulson - a member of The Okanagan Golf Club in Canada.

12 HOW TO REACH THE FINAL 8 wins take your team to Dubai.

The interest in playing WAMR in England is huge.

See which country got the most registrations for the 2022 season.

18 GUEST PROFILE Mads Vibe-Hastrup from Denmark is a Professional Golfer and won The European Tour.

The World Amateur Match Race Official Tournament Magazine is published by Happy Software Sport Organizer DMCC. PUBLISHER: HAAKAN. AAKERLUND / EMAIL: HAKAN@HAPPYTECHGROUP.COM ADVERTISING & CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP: MARTIN JENSEN / EMAIL: MARTIN@HAPPYTECHGROUP.COM

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d Invite an INTRODUCE A TEAM AND TAKE PART IN THE DRAWING FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE VIP TRIP TO DUBAI FINAL 2022 VIP AWARD FOR 1 PERSON FLIGHT TICKET TO DUBAI 5* HOTEL FOR 5 NIGHTS PRIVATE AIRPORT PICKUP 3 DAYS OF GOLF WITH VIP GROUP VIP DINNER

You get one chance in the drawing for each team you introduce.

DEADLINE: 24. April 2022 | 11:59 pm CET

Get your personal link here Invite your golf friends by using your personal link.

Your link can be found under "My Account."

MARCH 2022 | ISSUE 3

Easter is just around the corner, which means the golf season is finally getting started in many countries. There are only 30 days left until this year's edition of the World Amateur Match Race 2022.

We are pleased to see the golfers' massive interest in our tournament worldwide. More than 10 000 registrations in 7 weeks indicate that the golfers want to come to Dubai for the Final.

Registration for this year's competition is open until the 24th of April - 2022 Welcome to this year's edition of the World Amateur Match Race.

We look forward to seeing all the winners in Dubai in November!

Sten Haakan Aakerlund Tournament Director World Amateur Match Race www.worldamateurmatchrace.com

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"Akram Skaik - General Director of Emirates Golf Federation & Masoud Sobati - Sponsor of the Swarovskiencrusted golf club trophy for 2021 final in Dubai."

James Voce & John Aspinall from England INTERVIEW BY MARTIN JENSEN

Please tell me a bit about your team, i.e. where you are from and where you play?

James Voce: We live with our families south of Manchester in England, and I have been playing golf for 25 years now. We have been Legacy Hotels and Resorts Wychwood Park members for the last 14 years.

John Aspinall: James is our team captain, and we have been playing golf together for 3 years and love to play various tournaments around the UK. My handicap is 14, and James' is 6.4. My golf career started in 1992.

2021 the first year you attended World Amateur Match Race; why do you like this tournament?

James Voce: The fact that we play a Match-Play format locally within 150 km from our home club appealed to us. Conveniently, we got twothree weeks to play each match.

James Voce at the Tee on the final round 2021."

John Aspinall: I like the idea about the second chance each team gets by playing the loser bracket if you lose a match in the group race. Many of the finalists we met in the Dubai Final last year qualified via the loser bracket, where they got a second chance to get back into the tournament.

You guys played the World Amateur Match Race Final 2021 in Dubai; what was the highlight of the final?

James Voce: We simple liked everything about this tournament and can only recommend it to all golf players in England. Imagine for a small registration fee, we had great fun playing the tournament locally in England and played the final in Dubai. Flight, 5-star luxurious hotel, private chauffeurs and playing some of the best golf courses in Dubai without paying anything.

John Aspinall: I must say, Martin, you guys smashed it out of the park with flawless organizing and perfect venues. On a personal level, I was sooooooooooooo close to making a hole-in-one on Dubai Creek Golf Club, and imagine cashing in a brand new Rolex. I love that you had three hole-in-one prizes on each of the golf courses we played.

If you both qualify for the Final 2022 in Dubai, you will not be the only team from England since we got more than 1000 registrations; how you do feel about that?

John Aspinall: +1000 registrations are great news and impressive. Of course, we expect to qualify for the finals in Dubai. The more teams in England to play, the more teams will play in the final in Dubai.

James Voce: We can only emphasize that all players from England and worldwide sign-up for this tournament, invite your golf partner, pay for your slot in the local group race, and be ready for the tournament to start locally on the 1st of May.

John Aspinall was close to making a hole-in-one on the final round at Dubai Creek Golf Club 2021."

James, you have been living in Dubai some years back.

Can you try to describe Dubai?

Dubai is just incredible and one of my favourite places around the world. I fully understand World Amateur Match Race is located in Dubai, and all finals are played there. The final is played at the end of November when the weather is perfect, and the golf courses are in brilliant shape.

The week before, the final DP World Tour Championship was played on the courses.

Besides the golf course, Dubai is also the synonym for hospitality, wonderful and friendly people, best restaurants and hotels you could imagine. We all know the world's tallest tower Burj Khalifa or the 7-star hotel Burj Al Arab. As a former expat in Dubai and a golf lover, I can only recommend players, friends, and family visit Dubai.

Will you guys participate in this year's World Amateur Match Race?

"James and John at the Tee on the final round at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth course 2021."

OF COURSE, we will! We already signed up and paid to join the tournament, and this will be a yearly event for the two of us. Last year we came 3rd in the Final with -14 same score as the germans in 2nd place.

Hopefully, we will qualify again together with many players from England. Last year the trophy went to Ireland, won by James O'Brien & Cormac Browne (-17). We cannot let that happen again!

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Will there be a player from Okanagan Golf Club in Canada who takes home the World Amateur Match Race trophy this year?

S

o far, there are already 11 teams from The Okanagan Golf Club who signed up for the World Amateur Match Race 2022. We had the opportunity to interview Jeff Paulson - a member of Okanagan Golf Club, who participated in last year's edition of the World Amateur Match Race.

Last year you lost in the playoff against Kitan Gbadebo & Ben Dowell from Northview Golf & Country Club, who went to the final in Dubai.

Will there be a player from Okanagan Golf Club in Canada who takes home the title this year?

Those two guys were really awesome to play against and hang out with. They made our trip down to the Vancouver area really fun! Knowing how many more guys from our club are entering this year, I think we have a pretty good shot at a team making the finals.

Last year we had two teams from Okanagan Golf Club take part in World Amateur Match Race, and now we got 11 teams who have signed up so far from Okanagan Golf Club. How come so many teams from Okanagan Golf Club signed up for the competition?

I think it was a matter of people knowing about it.

When Kyle and I told people about the event, they had no idea it was even happening. I think we will see a lot more competitive teams this year.

Can you mention three holes from Okanagan Golf Club that you think will be crucial in an upcoming match?

When playing the Bear Course, holes2/3/4 are always a deadly stretch, #3 is always an intimidating tee shot with a lot of trouble.

On the Quail Course, holes 6/7/8/9/10 are deadly if you aren't getting off the tee well!

Jeff & his golf friends on the 11 Bear Course!

What can your opponent from abroad expect from the Okanagan Golf course when playing the World Amateur Match Race? What do you think is the best regarding Okanagan Gold Club/Course?

The Okanagan Golf Club has two courses, one being The Bear, a Jack Nicklaus design. Our courses are suited very well for tourism and fun rounds, and anyone that comes around will enjoy the courses and the staff.

We see tremendous support and interest from Canada in the World Amateur Match Race. Canada has the most registered teams, followed by Australia, England and the US. Do you think the tournament format with Match Play locally played and the world final in Dubai attracts players from Canada?

I think the idea of going to Dubai is really fantastic. Not a lot of people plan trips out that way! Pretty well, everyone we play with is used to playing Matchplay for a few bucks every round! So having a competition worth more than "a few bucks" is great to see!

Jeff Paulson

Kyle Zwaagstra

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"If you love the game of golf, it's hard not to have this week as the best of 2021."

"My team and I have done everything in our power to give players a magical golf experience and a great time in lovely Dubai.

Though the players are all amateurs, we wanted to treat them like the pros on The Professional Tour."

Thank you all… the best experience ever.

Casper Nielsen, Denmark

An experience like from another planet.

Felix Wiese and Steffen Benoit, Germany

"Memories that we will never forget!"

"32 competitors to start the week, 32 friends at the end! We are already looking forward to seeing all the previous and new finalists back in Dubai this year!"

Sten Haakan Aakerlund Tournament Director World Amateur Match Race

Thank you for some wonderful memories, and I feel I now have many new friends. Martin and team, you have smashed it out of the park with flawless organizing and perfect venues.

John Aspinall, England

JANUARY 2022 | ISSUE 1

- Starts locally in your country with 16 team in each group

MATCH 2

Team 4

MATCH 3

Team 6

MATCH 4 MATCH 5

Team 9

Team 8

Team 10

W- Match 9

MATCH 6

Team 12

MATCH 7

Team 14

MATCH 8

Team 16

W- Match 21

Round 2

MATCH 17

W- Match 23

Round 1 L- Match 1 L- Match 2

MATCH 23

W- Match 10 W- Match 25

W- Match 10

Advance to the Playoffs 1st

W- Match 4 MATCH 27

MATCH 25

W- Match 18

W- Match 27

L- Match 22

W- Match 25

W- Match 11

W- Match 22

W- Match 7

L- Match 4

MATCH 18

W- Match 11

W- Match 6

L- Match 3

L- Match 15

W- Match 5

MATCH 16

Team 15

W- Match 17

W- Match 3

MATCH 22

Team 13

Round 3

L- Match 16

MATCH 15

Team 11

Round 4

W- Match 2

MATCH 14

Team 7

Round 5

W- Match 9

MATCH 21

Team 5

Final LB

W- Match 1 MATCH 13

Team 3

Final WB

MATCH 10

Team 2

Round 3

L- Match 6

MATCH 19

L- Match 14

Advance to the Playoffs 2nd W- Match 29

W- Match 19

MATCH 28

L- Match 5

MATCH 11

Team 1

Round 2

W- Match 24

MATCH 24

W- Match 12

MATCH 29

W- Match 12

W- Match 26

MATCH 26

W- Match 20

MATCH 20

L- Match 7 L- Match 8

MATCH 12

MATCH 1

Round 1

Loser Bracket

MATCH 9

Winner Bracket (All teams starts here)

L- Match 13

W- Match 8 L- Match 27

L- Match 21

Winner Bracket Round 1:

1 May - 14 May

(14 days)

Round 2:

15 May - 28 May (14 days)

Round 3:

29 May - 25 Jun

(28 days)

WB Final:

26 Jun - 23 Jul

(28 days)

Loser Bracket

Do not miss the opportunity to use reserve players.

Round 1:

15 May - 28 May (14 days)

Round 2:

29 May - 11 Jun

(14 days)

Round 3:

12 Jun - 25 Jun

(14 days)

Round 4:

26 Jun - 9 Jul

(14 days)

Round 5:

10 Jul - 23 Jul

(14 days)

LB Final:

24 Jul - 6 Aug

(14 days)

If you cannot play all the matches during the World Amateur Match Race, do not worry; we got a solution for you and your team! Each team has the right to use two reserve players, and you may only use the same players. These reserves can complement the team if needed throughout the competition.

Using up to two reserve players during the competition gives the team the necessary flexibility in case of injury, work, vacation, etc.

JANUARY 2022 | ISSUE 1

Winners play in the World Final in Dubai - November 2022.

For all teams that win their group playoffs, a magical golfing experience awaits in Dubai, where flight, hotel and golf courses are paid for.

As an amateur player, you will feel and be treated like the pros on “The Tour.”

Final Courses Round 1 - Dubai Creek Championship Golf Course Round 2 - Jumeirah Golf Estate´s Earth Course Round 3 - Emirates Majlis Course

Playoff Bracket (Winners from 8 local Group Race)

MATCH 1

1th - Group 1

MATCH 2

27 Aug - 11 Sep (16 days)

1th - Group 3

MATCH 3

Quarter Finals

7 Aug - 26 Aug (20 days)

1th - Group 5

MATCH 4

Round of 16

1th - Group 7

2nd - Group 2

12 Sep - 30 Sep (19 days)

Winner match 2

MATCH 5

1th - Group 2

MATCH 6

1th - Group 4

2nd - Group 1

Winner match 10

Winner match 4 MATCH 15

Winner match 11

Winner match 6

MATCH 7

MATCH 14

1th - Group 6 2nd - Group 5

MATCH 8

2nd - Group 7

2nd - Group 7

Winner match 14

Winner match 7 MATCH 12

1th - Group 8

Winner match 15

Winner match 5 MATCH 11

2nd - Group 3

Winner match 13

Winner match 3 MATCH 10

2nd - Group 8

1 Oct - 16 Oct (16 days)

Winner match 9

MATCH 13

2nd - Group 6

Playoff Final

Winner match 1 MATCH 9

2nd - Group 4

Semi Finals

Winner match 12

Winner match 8

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We are pleased to see the English golfers' massive interest in our tournament.

So far, more than 40 group races are ready in England, and already 28 are fully booked!

L

ast year, only 2 players from England qualified for the final in Dubai. But this year it will be different due to the HUGE interest from England.

We would not be surprised if we welcome AT LEAST 10 players from England to the Dubai Final 2022.

In last month's issue of the World Amateur Match Race, we wrote an article about the US golfers and how we expected the registrations from the US to skyrocket…….and it did!

The US golfers welcomed our increased marketing effort by signing up heavily. In the first three weeks of March, more than 1000 signed up.

The teams are getting ready for the 1. round to be played from 1 - 14th of May.

Golf is a sport that has a very long season in some areas and a very short-lived season in other parts of the world. There are various opinions about when you can play golf or not.

Some golfers might say that freezing is not the golf season, and others will still argue that as long as there is no snow on the ground, it's time for golf!

In some parts of the world, it has not been possible to play golf due to the weather, and everyone has been waiting for April when the season starts in most countries. The spring is on its way, and we see an increase in registrations and understand that the urge to play golf is beginning to come.

Canada is still number one for most players registered for this year's competition. In Canada, where golf is very popular, you can expect the typical golf season from March/April to November.

Assistant Greenkeeper - Titirangi Golf Club - New Zealand On the other side of the world, we got New Zealand & Australia, and they just LOVE to play golf! This year we are luckily not limited by the Covid-19 and lockdown restrictions. We are looking forward to welcoming the finalists from 2021 and 2022 to a magnificent 2022 final in Dubai.

Australia is currently number 2 in most registered teams for this year's competition, and New Zealand is number 5.

The Benelux golfers love our tournament as well. We have seen a significant increase in sign-ups and payments to secure participation in the local group races in Belgium and the Netherlands. Switzerland is another country that went strong during March, where it was ranked fifth for the most sign-ups.

The golf season in Sweden, Norway and Denmark starts slowly around Easter and continues until October. In the last couple of days, we have seen a significant increase in registrations and the desire to play golf is starting to come.

Sweden redy for open the courses

In 30 days, the second edition of the World Amateur Match Race will start. Round 1 of your local group race will be played between 1 -14 May. 15/ WORLDAMATEURMATCHRACE.COM - OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT MAGAZINE | ISSUE 3 MARCH 2022

INTRODUCE A TEAM AND TAKE PART IN THE DRAWING FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE VIP TRIP TO DUBAI FINAL 2022

VIP AWARD FOR 1 PERSON FLIGHT TICKET TO DUBAI 5* HOTEL FOR 5 NIGHTS PRIVATE AIRPORT PICKUP 3 DAYS OF GOLF WITH VIP GROUP VIP DINNER

YOU GET ONE CHANCE IN THE DRAWING FOR EACH TEAM YOU INTRODUCE.

Get your personal link here DEADLINE: 24. April 2022 | 11:59 pm CET

Top 3 sign-ups March

England got many groups

Full speed in the "Alps"!

The top 3 registrations so far come from Canada, Australia and the USA, which in March was the country with by far the most registrations.

We are pleased to see the English golfers' massive interest in our tournament.

So far, more than 40 group races are ready in England, and already 28 are fully booked!

Switzerland is another country that went strong during March, where it was ranked 5. for the most signups and now in top 10.

TOP 20 COUNTRIES REGISTRATION MARCH 2022 Rank:

(Last month)

Rank:

(Last month)

Rank:

(Last month)

Rank:

(Last month)

1.

+1

(1)

6.

(6)

11.

-1

(10)

16.

-4

(12)

2.

+5

(2)

7.

(7)

12.

+1

(13)

17.

+2

(19)

3.

+2

(5)

8.

(8)

13.

-2

(11)

18.

-5

(13)

4.

-1

(3)

9.

(9)

14.

+2

(16)

19.

+6

(25)

5.

-1

(4)

10.

(22)

15.

-1

(14)

20.

+7

(27)

+12

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Golf Professional From Denmark

INTERVIEW BY MARTIN JENSEN

Tell us all who is Mads Vibe-Hastrup from Denmark?

At the age of 11, I started to play golf in Denmark and 7 years later I won the Junior World Amateur Championship in 1996.

My professional golf career started in 1999 and peaked in 2007 when I won the PGA European Tour in Madrid.

For 20 years and living life as a pro golfer with a mix of success and failure - I decided later in my adult life to build a new life with more joy and meaning.

Did you stop playing golf as a professional?

As a professional, I scaled down but I am still super active in golf and various related areas. I teach golf lessons in Denmark, design golf courses and arrange events for companies where golf is a learning element in exciting and different leadership education.

Should you play World Amateur Match Play?

No, unfortunately, I still have the status of a professional player?

It would have been fun to participate and maybe become an amateur champ again, like in the junior days! The competition is for amateur players who get the chance to experience a final like a pro which I like.

I am impressed by the World Amateur Match Race and the Final you host in Dubai. My Danish friends joined the Final in Dubai 2021 and were blown away!

Based on the pictures, videos, and statements, I can confirm as a Pro that the amateur finalists in Dubai are taken care of like the Pros on “the tour.”

Which one of the final courses of World Amateur Match Race ín Dubai is your favourite?

I played Dubai Desert Classic on the Majilis Course at the Emirates Golf Club, which is absolutely one of the best courses in the world. It challenges you as a golfer, and the same goes with Jumeirah Golf Estates "Earth" Course.

Dubai Creek Golf Club is magnificently surrounded by the creek and the view towards the city icon Burj Khalifa.

As a pro golfer, I must admit my favourite golf course of these three is Majilis Course. It will be a HUGE experience for the finalists of the World Amateur Match Race 2022.

As a Pro, which strategy do you recommend for amateur players?

As a Pro, when I achieved my best results, I focused on my mindset. I made sure to enjoy myself and always do my best.

This means accepting the different setbacks on the golf course to be more present in the now at every shot and being able to handle my thought process and emotions in that way.

I developed a strategy to be able to attack the course more and set up a lot of birdie opportunities.

You also fell in love with Padel like many other pro athletes?

Yes, that is correct. I run my padel centre in the Northern part of Copenhagen, including indoor golf.

Padel tennis is a fantastic sport for the young generation, adults and seniors. It is easy to learn compared with tennis and squash, and it is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. I can only recommend anyone to try Padel...you will get addicted like we all are to golf.

It was a pleasure teaming up with you, Martin, for a Padel match against the two other Danes here in Dubai. Always nice to win!

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We will make a Padel version of the World Amateur Match Race this fall 2022 - will you be joining?

Definitely! I love everything about your golf tournament. The idea of playing locally in a country and then multiple teams can qualify to the final in Dubai is brilliant, and it will be the trip of their life!

Since you make something similar in Padel will allow more players to participate in a fantastic event and meet new friends. I will host as many matches in my Padel centre as possible.

Did you frame this result and hang it on your wall at home?

Hahahaha - Yes in a golden frame.

Not every day you beat Roy Mcllroy with 5 strokes!

"Claes Lundstroem from Sweden at the Tee on the final round at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth course 2021."

We announced that the World Amateur Match Race World Final 2022 would return to Dubai and host three Championship Golf Courses.

The 2021 champions from Ireland, James O'Brien & Cormac Browne, has automatically qualified for defending their trophy.

The same goes for the three Australien teams, who managed to qualify for the Dubai 2021 final, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, could not travel abroad to Dubai. They are, of course, now directly qualified for the Dubai Final 2022.

In New Zealand, the teams are currently in the process to finish the playoff from 2021. The winners will qualify for this year's final 2022 in Dubai.

We look forward to welcoming all of you!

Qualified Teams For The World Amateur Match Race Final 2022 so far: James O'Brien & Cormac Browne / Defending Champions 2021 Tom Trimnell & Dino Capelli / Final qualified Australia 2021 Jason Jamieson & Piero Fragomeli/ Final qualified Australia 2021 Paul Brown & Kelvin Oconnell/ Final qualified Australia 2021 Winner ongoing Playoff New Zeland 2021

"Jason Jamieson & Piero Fragomeli" 22/ WORLDAMATEURMATCHRACE.COM - OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT MAGAZINE | ISSUE 3 MARCH 2022

"Paul Brown & Kelvin Oconnell"

Grand Final Venues A magical golf experience awaits all winners In Dubai, where travel, hotels and golf courses are paid for. As an amateur player, you will feel and be treated like the pros on “The Tour”.

The Finalists Will Be Playing Three Of The Best Golf Courses In The World

Dubai Creek

Jumeirah Golf Estates

Emirates Majlis Course

Round 1 - Sunday, November 27th 1st round of the final tournament at Dubai Creek championship golf course.

Golf World Magazine has voted this course one of the world’s ‘Top Must-Play Golf Courses.

Round 2 - Monday, November 28th 2nd round of the final tournament at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth course is home to the DP World Tour Championship, the culmination of The Race to Dubai and European Tour Season.

Round 3 - Wednesday, November 30th The last round will be played at the flagship golf course in the UAE, the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club. The course is home to Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, a competition included in the Rolex Series, the European Tour's premium category of events.

WORLDAMATEURMATCHRACE.COM - OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT MAGAZINE | ISSUE 3 MARCH 2022