Melanie Mätzler
At this year’s VP Bank Ladies Open played at GC Gams-Werdenberg in early May, a new tournament formula will make its premiere. The first two days will be stroke play and after 36 holes, the top 48 players will qualify for a match play format on the final day.
The qualifying players will play a series of nine-hole matches to decide the eventual winner. The idea for this format comes from tournament promoter Guido Mätzler, who also gives his name to this unique tournament formula, The “Mätzler-Mix”.
Mätzler presented his idea to the LET Access Series, receiving the go-ahead for the format from the tour and the WWGR. “The ‘Mätzler-Mix’ is an innovative idea for the final day of the VP Bank Ladies Open. It’s an exciting way to entertain both seasoned spectators and those who may be new to the game,” said Di Barnard, the LET Access Series Tour Director.
Tournament ambassador Melanie Mätzler commented: “I am proud that we are pioneering this format at our VP Bank Ladies Open in order to make golf more attractive.”
Austria’s number one, Olympic participant Christine Wolf, is also enthusiastic: “I think it’s a great idea to finish the tournament in match play. For us players this creates a pleasant change, for the spectators, the final round on Sunday thanks to the match play format will be exciting and easier to follow.
The “Mätzler-Mix” will also regulate the prize money allocation. For the first two tournament days, 25 percent of the total prize money will be distributed on each day. On Sunday, for the match play format, the remaining fifty percent will be distributed to the qualifying 48 players.
The match play rounds will be played over 9 holes, starting at 8:00, 10:15 and 13:00. Of the 24 winners from the first round of matches, the four best-placed players after the stroke-play rounds will play the two semi-finals, the losing semi-finalists will play for third and fourth place, whilst the winners will play for the title and the runner-up position. The remaining 20 first-round winners will play for 5th to 24th position.
The VP Bank Ladies Open will definitely be one to watch.
