Richard Maud shows mettle to take the title at UrbanCrazy Foxes Open

The second UrbanCrazy Foxes Open took place on Sunday, May 4th at Play2Day Wisbech, with 44 players taking part competing for a prize fund of £815. With the field stronger than ever, the competition was fierce from the very first shot.

Defending champion James Rutherford returned as the player to beat, but he faced stiff competition throughout the day. After three intense rounds on the challenging railway-themed course, it was Richard Maud of Gloucester Aces who emerged as the new champion. He sealed the win with a composed final round and a brilliant ace on Hole 17, setting a new course record of 31 along the way. James Rutherford took second place, while James Hollinrake climbed into third with another consistent showing that also boosted him to 7th in the national rankings.

In the Category 2 division, Murray Thompson delivered a standout performance to take the win, finishing ahead of the ever-competitive Balázs Tompa. The women’s battle for bronze went down to a playoff, with Rachel King just edging out Shelley Cooper on the second extra hole.

Category 3 saw a tight contest between three players, but it was Ricky Turner who pulled ahead in the final round to claim the title and his first-ever top-10 finish in a stroke play event.

In the Novice division, Joe Pearse finished ahead of his wife Louise to take his second and final novice title before promotion to the pro ranks. Newcomers Richard Mandeville and Matt Gilbert also impressed, taking second and third.

Scores were significantly better than in last year’s event, with no seven-putts recorded and a much tighter top 10. The course played differently this year, resulting in some unpredictable shots and memorable moments—including one ball that somehow ended up on the miniature railway platform!

A huge thank you goes to the team at Play2Day Wisbech for hosting the event, and to all the volunteers, referees, and sponsors who made the day such a success. The tournament was organised brilliantly by James Shaw and the Foxes Minigolf Club committee.

We now look forward to returning to the course for the British Adventure Golf Masters on July 27th.