Spa’s Mark keeps his European title

Spa’s Mark keeps his European title

27 May 2015

BALLYNAHINCH’S Mark Gibson retained his European Wheelchair Golf Championship title at Club de Golf Terramar, near Barcelona, last week.

In a close event he held off a strong challenge from French golfer Jean Marie Requeut to win by four points. 

Fifty four year-old Mark also finished third in the handicap section, a remarkable achievement by any standards, but not for Mark.

“I was disappointed not to win both titles,” he said. “A bad second day cost me dearly when I really should have done better.

“I thought the arduous trek down to Barcelona — I had to drive all the way myself — might have taken too much out of me, but at the end of the day I can have no excuses.”

Mark, a member of Spa Golf Club, has been in a wheelchair since the age of 17 following an accident and only took up golf seriously in 2000.

Prior to this, he was an accomplished snooker player. He won the British Disabled Open six times and lifted the World title in 1982.

Mark said he may not be able to defend his title next year.

“Other than a bit of help from the people at the Handigolf organisation, I received no sponsorship this time around and participation in the event cost me over £2,000 out of my own pocket.

“Next year’s event will be held somewhere in England which will be a help, but I would still require sponsorship of some sort.”