Robert Barras was crowned the 2024 iGolf Open champion at The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa after an excellent 37 Stableford points on the Bracken Course kicked off England Golf Week in style.
Following the success of the inaugural iGolf Open in 2023, the series was back again for 2024, but bigger and better than ever.
This year, 94 competitors battled it out across three regional qualifiers at Ealing, Hatchford Brook and Sand Moor, with the top 12 at each event progressing to the grand final at Woodhall Spa.
In total, 36 players contested the final on the challenging Bracken Course, where on a scorching day in Lincolnshire, it was Barras who lit up the leaderboard.
The 18-handicapper fired four of his five pars on the back-nine to finish on 37 points, two clear of the rest of the field.
He admitted: “It’s fantastic! A great day, a great event, I’m just buzzing, I can’t believe it – 37 points and what a cracking course!
“I started off well, the 1st hole, I was on the green for two, I parred that and then it just gave me the confidence to carry on hitting the fairways and the greens.”
Speaking about why he joined iGolf, Barras added: “I joined because I play a lot of golf courses and a lot of my friends are members.
I like the variety of golf so I haven’t joined a golf club but having the iGolf membership enabled me to get a handicap.”
When asked about why he entered the iGolf Open event, Barras (pictured above) said: “I think we all like competitions don’t we!
The great thing about the handicap system is that you can have someone playing off 6 or 8, playing with someone like me who is off 18 and it all evens itself out.
“I loved the atmosphere of the regionals, getting everyone together and having that bit of banter, but at the end of the day trying to play your best.
I’ve met some great people and it’s great to see lots of golfers having fun and trying to beat their personal best. I wouldn’t miss this for the world!”
Darren Baker finished 2nd with 35 points thanks to two birdies and three pars, one point ahead of Milorad Jelic in 3rd.
Meanwhile, Chelcie Lawrie (pictured below) made history by claiming back-to-back titles for the leading female iGolfer after bagging 30 points playing off 12.
iGolfers also got to enjoy some fun golf challenges along the way including a putting challenge, a chipping challenge, nearest the pin and a longest drive.
It was double delight for Lawrie as she also picked up the prize for the longest drive. Kevin Colby (putting challenge), Paul Dalby (chipping challenge) and Kirit Patel (nearest the pin) were the winners of the other three challenges. View the final leaderboard here.
