SM Match Play
The Swedish Match Play Championship is a golf tournament played since 1904, held for both men and women. It is the oldest and most traditional golf tournament in Sweden.[1] The name SM is shortening in Swedish language for "Svenska Mästerskapet" (the Swedish Championship).
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Skövde, Sweden |
| Established | 1904 |
| Course(s) | Skövde Golfklubb |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,747 yards (6,169 m) |
| Tour(s) | Challenge Tour Nordic Golf League Swedish Golf Tour |
| Format | Stroke play and match play |
| Prize fund | SKr 450,000 |
| Month played | July |
| Tournament record score | |
| Score | 6 and 5 Mark Haastrup (2016) |
| Current champion | |
 Axel Bóasson Sofie Bringner | |
| Location Map | |
  Skövde Golfklubb Location in Sweden | |
History
From the first tournament in 1904 (for men) and 1911 (for women) until 1983, it was an amateur tournament, from 1910 open only for Swedish citizens, and the winner was the official Swedish champion. Since 1984, except 1985, the tournament has been open to both amateurs and professionals and for foreign citizens.
If a foreigner wins, the best placed Swedish player becomes Swedish champion of the year.
The men's tournament is part of the Swedish Golf Tour since 1986 and the Nordic Golf League since 1999. It featured on the Challenge Tour between 1990 and 1999. The women's tournament is part of the women's Swedish Golf Tour since 1986.
The first tournament was held 9–10 October 1904, organized by Göteborgs Golfklubb (Gothenburg Golf Club) at the newly built 6 hole Hovås Course. Only players from the home club took part, despite there were two clubs in the country, one in Stockholm also.[2]
From 1907 to 1966, the final in the men's tournament was played over 36 holes. In 1949 and in 1950, the men's tournament began with 36 holes stroke play, were the 8 best players qualified for the match play competition. From 1932 to 1983, the final in the women's tournament was played over 36 holes.[3]
In 2012 the format was again changed from pure match play to 36 hole stroke play followed by match play for the 32 best men and 16 best women respectively.[4][5]
In 2020, the men's and women's tournaments were, for the first time, played at different venues and at different dates.
Most victories in the men's tournament are won by Elis Werkell, with six wins. Most victories in the women's tournament are won by Liv Wollin (née Forsell) with ten wins.
Swedish champion
Each year a Swedish champion award is given to the highest finishing Swede at the conclusion of the tournament. The Swedish Champion in the men's category has always came from the final match, except in 1997 and 2017, when Raimo Sjöberg (1997) and Joakim Rask (2017) finished as the highest finishing Swedes without making the final.
In the women's category, Karolina Andersson in 2002, Caroline Hedwall in 2007 and Ellen Hutchinson-Kay in 2022 were crowned Swedish champions without winning the tournament.
Winners
Men's winners
| Year | Tour[lower-alpha 1] | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Green Egg Swedish Matchplay Championship | ||||
| 2023 | NGL | Axel Bóasson (2) | 1 up | Felix Pålson |
| 2022 | NGL |  Mathias Gladbjerg | 1 up | Felix Jordansson |
| 2021 | NGL | Sebastian Petersen | 3 and 2 | Adam Blommé |
| SM Match | ||||
| 2020 | SWE | Martin Eriksson | 1 up | Oscar Lengdén |
| 2019 | NGL | Oliver Gillberg | 19 holes | Christopher Feldborg Nielsen |
| 2018 | NGL | Christian Gløët | 5 and 4 | Sebastian Hansson |
| 2017 | NGL | Axel Bóasson | 3 and 1 | Daniel Løkke |
| 2016 | NGL | Mark Haastrup | 6 and 5 | Niclas Johansson |
| 2015 | NGL | Björn Hellgren | 3 and 2 | Anton Wejshag |
| 2014 | NGL | Patrick O'Neill | 4 and 3 | Christopher Feldborg Nielsen |
| 2013 | NGL | Jesper Kennegård | 1 up | Joakim Lagergren |
| 2012 | NGL | Jesper Billing | 3 and 2 | Joakim Lagergren |
| 2011 | NGL | Niklas Bruzelius | 2 and 1 | Mathias Johansson |
| 2010 | NGL |  Christian Aronsen | 21 holes | Tony Edlund |
| 2009 | NGL | Tony Edlund | 2 and 1 | Wilhelm Schauman |
| 2008 | NGL | Åke Nilsson | 3 and 2 | Christian Aronsen |
| 2007 | NGL | Andreas Andersson | 1 up | Niklas Bruzelius |
| 2006 | NGL | Andreas Ljunggren (a) | 1 up | Jonas Wåhlstedt (a) |
| 2005 | NGL | Mattias Nilsson | David Jonsson | |
| 2004 | NGL | Magnus A. Carlsson | 3 and 2 | Per Larsson (a) |
| 2003 | NGL | Andreaz Lindberg | 3 and 2 | Jonas Wåhlstedt (a) |
| 2002 | NGL | Fredrik Orest | 4 and 2 | Markus Westerberg |
| 2001 | NGL | Fredrik Widmark | 19 holes | Yngve Nilsson |
| 2000 | NGL | Björn Pettersson | 1 up | Johan Möller |
| Öhrlings Swedish Matchplay | ||||
| 1999 | CHA | Kalle Brink | 19 holes | Henrik Stenson |
| 1998 | CHA |  Kevin Carissimi | 2 and 1 | Mattias Eliasson |
| 1997 | CHA | Gregory Garbero | 2 up |  Elliot Boult |
| SM Match Play | ||||
| 1996 | CHA | Adam Mednick | 2 and 1 | Freddie Jacobson |
| 1995 | CHA | Peter Thörn | 4 and 2 | Niclas Björnsson |
| 1994 | CHA | Per Nyman | 1 up | Joakim Grönhagen |
| 1993 | CHA | Per Haugsrud | 2 and 1 | Joakim Nilsson |
| 1992 | CHA |  José Cantero | 2 up | Kenny Cross |
| 1991 | CHA | Mathias Grönberg | 19 holes | Mats Sterner |
| 1990 | CHA |  Eoghan O'Connell | 3 and 2 | Per-Ulrik Johansson |
| 1989 | CHA | Magnus Grankvist (2) | 2 and 1 | Yngve Nilsson |
| SM Match Trygg-Hansa Cup | ||||
| 1988 | SWE | Mikael Krantz | 1 up | Anders Gillner |
| 1987 | SWE | Carl-Magnus Strömberg | 1 up | Johan Ryström |
| 1986 | SWE | Magnus Grankvist | 3 and 2 | John Lindberg |
| Svenska Mästerskapet Match Play[lower-alpha 2] | ||||
| 1985 | Yngve Nilsson (a) | 2 and 1 | Mikael Krantz (a) | |
| 1984 | Mats Lanner | 2 and 1 | Magnus Persson | |
| 1983 | K-G Drotz | 4 and 2 | Thomas Andersson | |
| 1982 | Björn Svedin (2) | 6 and 5 | Torbjörn Antevik | |
| 1981 | Göran Knutsson (2) | 2 and 1 | Nils Lindeblad | |
| 1980 | Göran Knutsson | 2 and 1 | Jan Grönkwist | |
| 1979 | Björn Svedin | 2 and 1 | Jonas Brundin | |
| 1978 | Mikael Sorling (2) | 2 and 1 | Krister Kinell | |
| 1977 | Mikael Sorling | 4 and 2 | Anders Johnsson | |
| 1976 | Bo Häggström | 2 and 1 | Jan Svensson | |
| 1975 | Göran Lundqvist | 1 up | Olle Dahlgren | |
| 1974 | Jan Rube | 5 and 4 | Thomas Bergström | |
| 1973 | Magnus Lindberg | 5 and 4 | Jan Wågnert | |
| 1972 | Claes Jöhncke | 3 and 2 | Michael Örtegren | |
| 1971 | Hans Hedjerson (2) | 1 up | Jan Rube | |
| 1970 | Hans Hedjerson | 5 and 4 | Roy Syle | |
| 1969 | Jan Rosell (2) | 5 and 3 | Claes Lindholm | |
| 1968 | Jan Rosell | 1 up | Thure Holmström | |
| 1967 | Johan Jöhncke (2) | 5 and 4 | Thure Holmström | |
| 1966 | Thure Holmström | 8 and 7 | P. O. Johansson | |
| 1965 | Johan Jöhncke | 38 holes | Hans Hedjerson | |
| 1964 | Lennart Leinborn (3) | 4 and 3 | P. O. Johansson | |
| 1963 | Göran Göransson | 2 and 1 | Lars Hall | |
| 1962 | P. O. Johansson | 8 and 6 | Göran Stenport | |
| 1961 | Lennart Leinborn (2) | 4 and 3 | Bengt Möller | |
| 1960 | Rune Karlfeldt | 8 and 7 | Nils Gustavsson | |
| 1959 | Bengt Möller | 39 holes | Göran Lindeblad | |
| 1958 | Lennart Leinborn | 5 and 4 | Ola Bergqvist | |
| 1957 | Göran Lindeblad | 5 and 4 | Rune Karlfedt | |
| 1956 | Gustaf Adolf Bielke | 10 and 8 | Lennart Roos | |
| 1955 | Elis Werkell (6) | 3 and 2 | Göran Lindeblad | |
| 1954 | Gunnar Carlander | 4 and 2 | Ola Bergqvist | |
| 1953 | Elis Werkell (5) | 3 and 2 | Bengt Möller | |
| 1952 | Elis Werkell (4) | 8 and 7 | Carl-Reinhold Ulff | |
| 1951 | Bengt Carlsson | 1 up | Elis Werkell | |
| 1950 | Elis Werkell (3) | 5 and 4 | Jan Nathorst-Westfelt | |
| 1949 | Elis Werkell (2) | 4 and 3 | Gunnar Friberg | |
| 1948 | Finn Sörvik (5) | 37 holes | Elis Werkell | |
| 1947 | Elis Werkell | 3 and 1 | Gustaf Adolf Bielke | |
| 1946 | Finn Sörvik (4) | 4 and 3 | Edvard Brändström | |
| 1945 | Finn Sörvik (3) | 9 and 8 | Eric Bengtsson | |
| 1944 | Finn Sörvik (2) | 3 and 2 | Nils Odqvist | |
| 1943 | Edvard Brändström | 1 up | Sten Arnberg | |
| 1942 | Erik Röhss | 3 and 2 | Nils Odqvist | |
| 1941 | Bo Herion | 3 and 2 | Erik Runfelt | |
| 1940: No tournament | ||||
| 1939 | Knut Sörvik | 5 and 4 | Hugo Runfelt | |
| 1938 | Sune Malmström (3) | 4 and 3 | Hugo Runfelt | |
| 1937 | Hugo Runfelt (8) | 2 and 1 | Erik Runfelt | |
| 1936 | Sune Malmström (2) | 6 and 5 | Elof Runfelt | |
| 1935 | Hugo Runfelt (7) | 2 up | Stig Boström | |
| 1934 | Erik Runfelt (6) | 3 and 1 | Gunnar Peterson | |
| 1933 | Stig Boström | 5 and 4 | Gunnar Edstrand | |
| 1932 | Sune Malmström | 6 and 4 | Georg Svensson | |
| 1925–1931: No tournament | ||||
| 1924 | Gunnar Edstrand (2) | 8 and 7 | Erik Thorén | |
| 1923 | Gunnar Edstrand | 8 and 7 | Elof Runfelt | |
| 1922 | Carl Rydbeck (3) | 6 and 5 | Gunnar Edstrand | |
| 1921 | Erik Runfelt (5) | 6 and 5 | Knut Lignell | |
| 1920 | Carl Rydbeck (2) | 6 and 5 | Georg Pettersson | |
| 1919 | Hans Beck-Friis (2) | 1 up | Erik Runfelt | |
| 1918 | Erik Runfelt (4) | 9 and 7 | Hans Beck-Friis | |
| 1917 | Erik Runfelt (3) | 2 up | Hans Beck-Friis | |
| 1916 | Hans Beck-Friis | 11 and 9 | Gunnar Bauer | |
| 1915 | Carl Rydbeck | 8 and 6 | Hans Beck-Friis | |
| 1914 | Knut Lignell | 37 holes | Georg Pettersson | |
| 1913 | Erik Runfelt (2) | 6 and 4 | Carl Rydbeck | |
| 1912 | Erik Runfelt | 13 and 11 | Carl Rydbeck | |
| 1911 | Tor Törnsten (5) | 3 and 2 | Erik Runfelt | |
| 1910 | Tor Törnsten (4) | 37 holes | Erik Runfelt | |
| 1909 | Tor Törnsten (3) | 4 and 2 | D. von Braun | |
| 1908 | J. Harvey | 9 and 8 | Tor Törnsten | |
| 1907 | Tor Törnsten (2) | 11 and 10 | Viktor Setterberg | |
| 1906 | Tor Törnsten | 4 and 2 | Viktor Setterberg | |
| 1905 | Andrew Armstrong | 3 and 1 | Viktor Setterberg | |
| 1904 | Teodor Åkermark | 8 and 6 | Viktor Setterberg | |
Women's winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| SM Match Play | |
| 2022 |  Patricia Isabel Schmidt |
| 2021 | Sofie Bringner |
| 2020 | Linn Grant (a) |
| 2019 | Emma Svensson |
| 2018 | Lisa Pettersson |
| 2017 | Lynn Carlsson |
| 2016 | Johanna Björk |
| 2015 | Camilla Lennarth |
| 2014 | Natalie Wille |
| 2013 | Anjelika Hammar |
| 2012 | Lina Boqvist |
| 2011 | Cissi Wahlberg |
| 2010 | Lotta Wahlin |
| 2009 | Louise Larsson |
| 2008 | Anna Nordqvist (a) |
| 2007 | Julie Tvede |
| 2006 | Caroline Hedwall (a) |
| SM i Match Play | |
| 2005 | Louise Stahle |
| 2004 | Maria Bodén |
| 2003 | Linda Wessberg |
| 2002 |  Rikka Hakkarainen |
| 2001 | Cecilia Sjöblom |
| 2000 | Isabelle Rosberg |
| Öhrlings Swedish Matchplay | |
| 1999 | Filippa Helmersson |
| 1998 | Helene Koch |
| 1997 | Catrin Nilsmark |
| 1996 | Anna Berg (a) |
| SM Match Play | |
| 1995 | Mia Löjdahl (a) |
| 1994 | Maria Hjorth (a) (2) |
| 1993 | Maria Hjorth (a) |
| 1992 | Carin Hjalmarsson |
| 1991 | Linda Ericsson (a) |
| 1990 | Jeniffer Allmark (a) |
| Svenska Mästerskapet Match Play | |
| 1989 | Pia Nilsson |
| 1988 | Helen Alfredsson (a) (3) |
| SM Match Trygg-Hansa Cup | |
| 1987 | Helen Alfredsson (a) (2) |
| 1986 | Helen Alfredsson (a) |
| Svenska Mästerskapet Match Play[lower-alpha 3] | |
| 1985 | Sofia Grönberg (a) |
| 1984 | Liselotte Neumann (a) |
| 1983 | Gisela Linnér |
| 1982 | Marie Wennersten (2) |
| 1981 | Marie Wennersten |
| 1980 | Liv Wollin (10) |
| 1979 | Hillewi Hagström |
| 1978 | Kärstin Ehrnlund (2) |
| 1977 | Kärstin Ehrnlund |
| 1976 | Liv Wollin (9) |
| 1975 | Eva Cedervall |
| 1974 | Monica Andersson |
| 1973 | Liv Wollin (8) |
| 1972 | Liv Wollin (7) |
| 1971 | Louise Wingård |
| 1970 | Birgit Forssman |
| 1969 | Liv Forsell (6) |
| 1968 | Liv Forsell (5) |
| 1967 | Liv Forsell (4) |
| 1966 | Liv Forsell (3) |
| 1965 | Cecilia Perslow |
| 1964 | Liv Forsell (2) |
| 1963 | Liv Forsell |
| 1962 | Ann-Marie Brynolf |
| 1961 | Ann-Katrin Svensson (2) |
| 1960 | Britt Mattsson (8) |
| 1959 | Marianne Bergengren (2) |
| 1958 | Marianne Bergengren |
| 1957 | Britt Mattsson (7) |
| 1956 | Britt Mattsson (6) |
| 1955 | Ann-Katrin Svensson |
| 1954 | Gertrud Ahlberg |
| 1953 | Britt Mattsson (5) |
| 1952 | Britt Mattsson (4) |
| 1951 | Britt Mattsson (3) |
| 1950 | Britt Mattsson (2) |
| 1949 | Britt Mattsson |
| 1948 | Nancy Runfelt (3) |
| 1947 | Cisela Lundberg |
| 1946 | Nancy Runfelt (2) |
| 1945 | Ann-Kersti Svensson (3) |
| 1944 | Maud Röhss (3) |
| 1943 | Ann-Marie Brynolf |
| 1942 | Maud Röhss (2) |
| 1941 | Maud Röhss |
| 1940 | No tournament |
| 1939 | Nancy Runfelt |
| 1938 | Ann-Kersti Swenson (2) |
| 1937 | Karin Bauer (5) |
| 1936 | Ellis Janzon |
| 1935 | Karin Bauer (4) |
| 1934 | Ann-Kersti Swenson |
| 1933 | Karin Bauer (3) |
| 1932 | Karin Bauer (2) |
| 1925–31 | No tournament |
| 1924 | Els-Brita Hammer |
| 1923 | No tournament |
| 1922 | Karin Bauer |
| 1921 | No tournament |
| 1920 | |
| 1919 | |
| 1918 | Rosa Runfelt |
| 1917 | No tournament |
| 1916 | |
| 1915 | |
| 1914 | Viveka Rosencrantz (2) |
| 1913 | No tournament |
| 1912 | |
| 1911 | Viveka Rosencrantz |
| 1910 | No tournament |
| 1909 | |
| 1908 | |
| 1907 | |
| 1906 | |
| 1905 | |
| 1904 | |
Notes
- CHA − Challenge Tour; NGL − Nordic Golf League; SWE − Swedish Golf Tour.
- Until 1983 and in 1985, the SM Match Play was an amateur tournament.
- Until 1983 and in 1985, the SM Match Play was an amateur tournament.
References
- Wille to defend SM Title, Swedish Golf Federation, 22 June 2015
- Jansson, Anders (1979). Golf - Den gröna sporten [Golf - The green sport] (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. pp. 14–24, 172–173, 193–194. ISBN 9172603283.
- Jansson, Anders (2004). Golf – Den stora sporten [Golf – The Great Sport] (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. pp. 212–215, 218–220. ISBN 91-86818007.
- SM Match Changes Format, Svensk Golf, 25 June 2012
- Bergman, Tobias (August 2005). "Mastersplatsen Nilssons belöning" [A start at the Scandinavian Masters, the reward for Nilsson] (in Swedish). No. 8. Swedish Golf Federation. p. 110.
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