SM Match Play explained

Big Green Egg Swedish Matchplay Championship
Location:Skövde, Sweden
Establishment:1904
Course:Skövde Golfklubb
Par:72
Yardage:6747yd
Tour:Challenge Tour
Nordic Golf League
Swedish Golf Tour
Format:Stroke play and match play
Month Played:July
Score:6 and 5 Mark Haastrup (2016)
Current Champion: Axel Bóasson
Sofie Bringner
Map:Sweden
Map Label:Skövde Golfklubb
Map Relief:yes
Map Size:200
Coordinates:58.369°N 13.807°W

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 a Swedish abbreviation for Svenska Mästerskapet 'Swedish Championship'.

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

YearTourWinnerScoreRunner-up
Big Green Egg Swedish Matchplay Championship
2023 Axel Bóasson (2) 1 up Felix Pålson
2022 1 up Felix Jordansson
2021 3 and 2 Adam Blommé
SM Match
2020 1 up Oscar Lengdén
2019 19 holes Christopher Feldborg Nielsen
2018 5 and 4 Sebastian Hansson
2017 3 and 1 Daniel Løkke
2016 6 and 5 Niclas Johansson
2015 3 and 2 Anton Wejshag
2014 4 and 3 Christopher Feldborg Nielsen
2013 1 up Joakim Lagergren
2012 3 and 2 Joakim Lagergren
2011 2 and 1 Mathias Johansson
2010 21 holes Tony Edlund
2009 2 and 1 Wilhelm Schauman
2008 3 and 2 Christian Aronsen
2007 1 up Niklas Bruzelius
2006 Andreas Ljunggren (a) 1 up Jonas Wåhlstedt (a)
2005 David Jonsson
2004 3 and 2 Per Larsson (a)
2003 3 and 2 Jonas Wåhlstedt (a)
2002 4 and 2 Markus Westerberg
2001 19 holes Yngve Nilsson
2000 1 up Johan Möller
Öhrlings Swedish Matchplay
1999 19 holes Henrik Stenson
1998 2 and 1 Mattias Eliasson
1997 2 up Elliot Boult
SM Match Play
1996 2 and 1 Freddie Jacobson
1995 4 and 2 Niclas Björnsson
1994 1 up Joakim Grönhagen
1993 2 and 1 Joakim Nilsson
1992 2 up Kenny Cross
1991 19 holes Mats Sterner
1990 3 and 2 Per-Ulrik Johansson
1989 Magnus Grankvist (2) 2 and 1 Yngve Nilsson
SM Match Trygg-Hansa Cup
1988 1 up Anders Gillner
1987 1 up Johan Ryström
1986 3 and 2 John Lindberg
Svenska Mästerskapet Match Play
1985 Yngve Nilsson (a) 2 and 1 Mikael Krantz (a)
1984 2 and 1
1983 4 and 2 Thomas Andersson
1982 Björn Svedin (2) 6 and 5 Torbjörn Antevik
1981 Göran Knutsson (2) 2 and 1 Nils Lindeblad
1980 2 and 1 Jan Grönkwist
1979 2 and 1 Jonas Brundin
1978 Mikael Sorling (2) 2 and 1 Krister Kinell
1977 4 and 2 Anders Johnsson
1976 2 and 1 Jan Svensson
1975 1 up Olle Dahlgren
1974 5 and 4 Thomas Bergström
1973 5 and 4 Jan Wågnert
1972 3 and 2 Michael Örtegren
1971 Hans Hedjerson (2) 1 up Jan Rube
1970 5 and 4 Roy Syle
1969 Jan Rosell (2) 5 and 3 Claes Lindholm
1968 1 up Thure Holmström
1967 Johan Jöhncke (2) 5 and 4 Thure Holmström
1966 8 and 7 P. O. Johansson
1965 38 holes Hans Hedjerson
1964 Lennart Leinborn (3) 4 and 3 P. O. Johansson
1963 2 and 1 Lars Hall
1962 8 and 6 Göran Stenport
1961 Lennart Leinborn (2) 4 and 3 Bengt Möller
1960 8 and 7 Nils Gustavsson
1959 39 holes Göran Lindeblad
1958 5 and 4 Ola Bergqvist
1957 5 and 4 Rune Karlfedt
1956 10 and 8 Lennart Roos
1955 Elis Werkell (6) 3 and 2 Göran Lindeblad
1954 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 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 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 1 up Sten Arnberg
1942 3 and 2 Nils Odqvist
1941 3 and 2 Erik Runfelt
1940: No tournament
1939 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 5 and 4 Gunnar Edstrand
1932 6 and 4 Georg Svensson
1925–1931: No tournament
1924 Gunnar Edstrand (2) 8 and 7 Erik Thorén
1923 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 11 and 9 Gunnar Bauer
1915 8 and 6 Hans Beck-Friis
1914 37 holes Georg Pettersson
1913 Erik Runfelt (2) 6 and 4 Carl Rydbeck
1912 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 9 and 8 Tor Törnsten
1907 Tor Törnsten (2) 11 and 10 Viktor Setterberg
1906 4 and 2 Viktor Setterberg
1905 Andrew Armstrong 3 and 1 Viktor Setterberg
1904 8 and 6 Viktor Setterberg

Women's winners

YearWinner
SM Match Play
Patricia Isabel Schmidt
2021
2020 Linn Grant (a)
2019 Emma Svensson
2018
2017
2016 Johanna Björk
2015
2014 Natalie Wille
2013 Anjelika Hammar
2012
2011 Cissi Wahlberg
2010
2009
2008 Anna Nordqvist (a)
2007
2006 Caroline Hedwall (a)
SM i Match Play
2005
2004
2003
2002 Rikka Hakkarainen
2001 Cecilia Sjöblom
2000 Isabelle Rosberg
Öhrlings Swedish Matchplay
1999 Filippa Helmersson
1998
1997
1996 Anna Berg (a)
SM Match Play
1995 Mia Löjdahl (a)
1994 Maria Hjorth (a) (2)
1993 Maria Hjorth (a)
1992
1991 Linda Ericsson (a)
1990 Jeniffer Allmark (a)
Svenska Mästerskapet Match Play
1989
1988 Helen Alfredsson (a) (3)
SM Match Trygg-Hansa Cup
1987 Helen Alfredsson (a) (2)
1986 Helen Alfredsson (a)
Svenska Mästerskapet Match Play
1985 Sofia Grönberg (a)
1984 Liselotte Neumann (a)
1983 Gisela Linnér
1982 Marie Wennersten (2)
1981
1980 Liv Wollin (10)
1979 Hillewi Hagström
1978 Kärstin Ehrnlund (2)
1977
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
1964 Liv Forsell (2)
1963
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

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/sgf/pressreleases/wille-vill-foersvara-sm-titeln-1182380 Wille to defend SM Title
  2. Book: Jansson, Anders . Golf - Den gröna sporten . Swedish . Golf - The green sport . Swedish Golf Federation . 1979 . 9172603283 . 14-24, 172-173, 193-194.
  3. Book: Jansson, Anders. Golf – Den stora sporten. Swedish Golf Federation. 2004. 91-86818007. 212-215, 218-220. sv. Golf – The Great Sport.
  4. http://www.svenskgolf.se/artiklar/folja/20120625/sm-match-byter-spelform SM Match Changes Format
  5. Bergman . Tobias . Mastersplatsen Nilssons belöning . A start at the Scandinavian Masters, the reward for Nilsson . Swedish Golf Federation . August 2005 . 8. 110 . sv.