2011 Reikäpelimestaruus - Pasi PuputtiThe 2011 Reikäpelimestaruus was started unusually late in the season and by the time the top two seeds (Niko Helin and Andy Fowlie) had made it through to the semi final stage it was already mid-September.
In the first semi-final Andy Fowlie was able to defeat head greenkeeper Kai Kurikka 5/4 to book his place in the final for the first time since 2008. In the other semi-final Niko Helin, the two time defending champion and four time mestaruuskilpailu winner, was the very strong favourite when facing Pasi Puputti (winner of Ystävägolf and the Kuukausikilpailu earlier in the year). Pasi however paid no attention whatsoever to those expectations and played an astonishing round to beat Niko 2/1 despite Niko going round in 73 (+2) from the white tees. The final between Pasi and Andy was a tense affair on a cold, wet and windy Sunday afternoon. Andy won the first two holes but a 10m downhill birdie putt on the third brought Pasi right back into the game. The match went back and forth all afternoon as the sun tried its best to stay above the horizon. As they reached the 17th tee Andy held a one hole advantage but Pasi squared the match with a perfect birdie, his second shot never left the flag and the 4m uphill putt went right in the middle. On the 18th hole Andy was in a great position after a long drive up the middle and after an indifferent tee-shot and a hack out Pasi had to play his 3rd shot before Andy reached his drive. Pasi's third shot was a terrific 3 wood onto the green from about 220m and after Andy failed to get up and down for his birdie from the rough to the left of the green (yes, that is very close to the water!) the match was tied and they had to proceed to the 19th hole. By this time it was too dark to see the ball at all... and seeing the flag on the approach shots on the 19th was also out of the question. Pasi had timed his attack to perfection, a great drive (especially seeing as he had a fresh memory of driving to the water 4 hours earlier) followed by a perfect 3 wood to within 4m of the hole was enough to give him the luxury of "two putts for the win". Pasi made no mistake and won the Reikäpelimestaruus competition for the first time... if he continues to produce great shots at exactly the right moment then it will not be the last time! |