Staff WriterIf anyone needed reminding that the G4D Open is more than just a golf tournament, Brendan Lawlor and Daphne van Houten delivered a thunderous encore at Woburn that would make even the steeliest of pros nod in admiration.
The Irishman and Dutchwoman, both returning champions from the event’s inaugural running in 2023, reclaimed their G4D Open titles with commanding performances that left the field chasing shadows on the Duchess Course.
Lawlor, who hails from Carton House and sits third in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), posted a gritty one-over-par 73 in his final round, finishing at three-over 219.
That was enough to keep Australia’s Lachlan Wood at bay by four strokes, despite the Aussie’s spirited charge with four birdies on the front nine.
“Brendan Lawlor doesn’t just win – he orchestrates,” one might say. From his first tee shot, the 28-year-old – who lives with Ellis–van Creveld syndrome – made it clear he wasn’t in the mood to give up his crown.
Two birdies in his first six holes set the tone, and while others unravelled, Lawlor held firm with a run of seven steady pars from the 7th hole onward. Even a double bogey on the 17th couldn’t shake him.
Meanwhile, his playing partners were having days they’ll try to forget over a cold pint. French left-hander Thomas Colombel imploded with a triple bogey eight on the 4th after sending his tee shot AWOL, and Danish teenager Frederik Brokfelt-Christiansen found similar trouble early on.
Wood, 34, deserves more than a passing nod. After enduring multiple surgeries on his left leg, he made a serious move, firing a composed 71 to grab solo second on seven-over 223 – an improvement on last year’s T4 finish.
England’s Thomas Blizzard and Spain’s Juan Postigo Arce tied for third, a stroke further back.
Over in the women’s division, Daphne van Houten might as well have brought a broom – because she swept the field. The 26-year-old from
The Netherlands clinched an 11-shot victory with a closing 79 for a total of 250, leaving Germany’s Jennifer Sräga trailing in second and England’s Aimi Bullock in third.
Van Houten, currently ranked 27th on the WR4GD, has faced more than just tough pins – born with scoliosis and having overcome a number of health battles, she played with a composure that belied the pressure of defending a title.
Birdies at the 10th and 13th punctuated her final round, as she added yet another trophy to her growing EDGA Tour collection.
Sräga, born with Achondroplasia – a form of dwarfism – made an impressive debut at the G4D Open. At just 25, and fresh off representing Germany in the European Team Championship, she showed poise and potential to become a future champion in her own right.
The G4D Open, launched last year by The R&A and the DP World Tour in partnership with EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association), has quickly established itself as one of the most inclusive events on the golfing calendar.
This year, 80 competitors from 20 countries – ranging from 18 to 79 years old – teed it up across nine sport classes, spanning Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting impairments.
Importantly, it wasn’t just about the overall titles. Gross prizes were also handed out in each classification, celebrating talent across the full spectrum of ability and reminding us all what true inclusivity in sport looks like.
In a game that so often obsesses over swing speeds and yardages, the G4D Open brought us something else – resilience, respect, and the purest kind of competitive spirit.
And in Brendan Lawlor and Daphne van Houten, the G4D Open didn’t just get two worthy winners. It got two champions in every sense of the word.
Men’s Gross Prize Winners
| Category | Position | Winner & Country |
|---|---|---|
| Intellectual | 1 | Cameron Pollard, Australia |
| Intellectual | 2 | Thomas Blizzard, England |
| Standing | 1 | Juan Postigo Arce, Spain |
| Standing | 2 | Frederik Brokfelt-Christiansen, Denmark |
| Standing | 3 | Brendan Lawlor, Ireland |
| Sitting | 2 | Richard Kluwen, The Netherlands |
| Visual | 2 | John Eakin, England |
Women’s Gross Prize Winners
| Category | Position | Winner & Country |
|---|---|---|
| Intellectual | 1 | Natasha Stasiuk, Canada |
| Intellectual | 2 | Michelle Lau, England |
| Standing | 1 | Alessandra Donati, Italy |
| Standing | 2 | Aimi Bullock, England |
| Standing | 3 | Daphne van Houten, The Netherlands |
| Visual | 1 | Mette Havnaas, Norway |
| Visual | 2 | Charlene Pienaar, South Africa |
Final scores from the sport classes can be viewed here.
Highlights from the Championship will be aired on Sky Sports Golf later this month.
Woburn Golf Club has long been a prestigious venue, continuing its rich history of hosting top-tier amateur and professional championships.
From 2014 to 2017, the Marquess Course played host to Final Qualifying for The Open, and more recently, in 2019, it was the setting for the AIG Women’s Open.
The launch of The G4D Open marks another milestone in the club’s legacy, aligning with the introduction of the Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disabilities.
This move supports the ongoing efforts of The R&A and USGA in managing the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), further solidifying the sport’s commitment to inclusivity.
