Daphne van Houten and Brendan Lawlor secured G4D Open victories for a second time after both eased to memorable successes at Woburn.
Van Houten – the leading woman at 27th on the WR4GD – enjoyed a comfortable victory to add to her numerous wins on the EDGA Tour. She defended her G4D Open women’s title with an 11-stroke victory over Germany’s Jennifer Sräga.
Born with scoliosis and since faced with other health battles, Dutch player van Houten, 26, closed with a seven-over 79 after birdies at the 10th and 13th. Sräga, 25, was born with Achondroplasia, commonly called short stature, and enjoyed a strong Championship debut, having competed for Germany in the European Team Championship last year. England’s Aimi Bullock finished in third place in the women’s event.
Brendan Lawlor Defends G4D Open title
Irishman Brendan Lawlor, who won the inaugural staging of the Championship in 2023, again lifted the men’s trophy this year. He shot a one-over-par final round of 73 for a 54-hole total of three-over 219 and a four-stroke win over Lachlan Wood from Australia.
In glorious conditions over the Duchess Course, Lawlor shone from the start of the final round while his closest rivals faltered. The 28-year-old, who has a rare condition called Ellis–van Creveld syndrome, made two birdies in his opening six holes.
More about the G4D Open
Established in 2023, the G4D Open – held in partnership between The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formally the European Disabled Golf Association) – is one of the most inclusive ever staged. The G4D Open featured nine sports classes across multiple impairment groups, with 80 men and women players of both amateur and professional status, aged 18-79, representing 20 countries.
A gross prize was also awarded in each sport class, covering various categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting.
The women’s gross prize winners were as follows:
- 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
The men’s gross prize winners were as follows:
- 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
Highlights from the G4D Open will be aired on Sky Sports Golf later this month. You can also watch features and daily highlights on The R&A's YouTube channel and R&A TV.
