Clarke, Brown crowned champs at English Open

British duo Ben Clarke and Sophie Brown won the Footgolf English Open at the Tilgate Forest Golf Club on Friday.

Around 100 competitors competed over two rounds in Crawley, just south of London, for the title and winnings from a prize fund of 1,500 pounds ($1,960).

“Yeah, a good day at the office. I left it late, I think I was four shots behind going into the second round so I knew I had to do something good,” men’s world No.1 Clarke said.

“I shot 12-under that second round, so I knew that was going to give me a chance and thankfully it worked out that way.”

The game combines two of the world’s biggest sports, with footgolfers kicking a regularsize soccer ball around a course with holes that are 52 centimeters in diameter.

Using the traditional golf scoring rules, the player who finishes the course with the fewest shots wins.

The game is quicker to play, and more accessible, as it does not require any of the expensive golf equipment.

Tournament director Paul Oliver believes the strategic elements of the game attracts both footballers and golfers from around the world.

“Footgolf is attracting players from a football background, but also golfers are coming into the sport,” he said.

“I think the golf outcome on the game is slightly different, it’s more analytical, the approach I guess is a little more strategic.

“Footballers tend to just give it a good whack but you know, Ben Clarke’s world No.1, he used to be a goalkeeper and he certainly gives it a good whack.”