Clarke claims superb win at FootGolf event in Croatia

Berkhamsted FootGolf player Ben Clarke has stormed to victory at the Croatian Open – claiming title by a staggering eight shots against Europe’s elite players.
Ben Clarke, left, proudly displays his Croatioan Open trophy PNL-150929-082327002Ben Clarke, left, proudly displays his Croatioan Open trophy PNL-150929-082327002
Ben Clarke, left, proudly displays his Croatioan Open trophy PNL-150929-082327002

Clarke, 24, finished on a total of 12-under-par at the Golf & Country Club Zagreb, which handed him an emphatic victory over nearest challengers Gabor Gelencser from Hungary and Irishman Cathal Jenkinson, both on four-under-par.

A shot further back were Hungarian duo Krisztian Bogar and Csaba Balazsi, with only three other players finishing below-par over the two-day competition.

Following his stunning victory, Clarke tweeted: “Croatian Open 2015 champion. Get in there! Words can not describe how happy I am.

“Absolutely buzzing! Bring on Hungary next weekend.”

Clarke is now aiming to continue his good form in the remaining European Tour events as the season heads towards its climax, with the FootGolf World Cup taking place in Argentina early next year.

He travels to Hungary at the weekend, and then heads to Turkey ahead of the showpiece event in Buenos Aires in January. The top five players in the UK rankings are guaranteed selection for the team – with Clarke currently ranked number 2 in the country.

It has been an impressive rise to the top of the sport for Clarke, who only started playing FootGolf in June last year after he discovered the sport on social media.

It soon became clear that Clarke had a natural flair for the sport – unsurprisingly, a combination of golf and football – and he went on to finish fourth in his first ever ranking event in only his second time of playing.

He has since become an ambassador for the FootGolf partner charity Balls To Cancer and has also appeared on TV playing the sport - including programmes on Sky Sports and Japan’s biggest channel NHK.

To contact Clarke to discuss possible sponsorship deals, please email [email protected]

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