Since 2011 VPAR Live Golf Scoring has been contracted by the R&A to provide the integral link between the walking scorers and the golfing public with a live scoring element at the European International Final Qualifying (IFQ) event for The Open Championship.
These qualifiers were introduced in 2004 and are held on five continents to give more players from around the world the chance to gain direct entry into golf’s oldest championship.
The 2013 Europe edition, held at Sunningdale in Berkshire, saw players scrambling for the top nine qualifying places over 36 holes with each round held on a different course; highlighting VPAR’s multiple course and round functionality.
Each walking scorer was given one of VPAR’s easy-to-use handheld scorepads so they could update the player’s progress after each hole. A live leaderboard was displayed in the press room as well as being integrated into The Open.com website, so fans, players and caddies could follow the action as it happened and monitor their position in real-time.
Spectators on the day also had access to the live leaderboard on their smartphones so even in the furthest corners of the course they knew exactly who was in contention.
Ed Johnson from the R&A said “We have always enjoyed working with VPAR and they are an integral part of the service we need to provide to our players and spectators.”
“VPAR Live Golf Scoring is the world’s leading real-time scoring and live leaderboard experience,” says Jeremy Gray, Sales Director, “We have worked with the Ladies European Tour and sectional PGA events in the US as well as supplying over 550 events worldwide each year ranging from Corporate and Charity Golf Days, Club Championships, Pro, Amateur and Pro Am tournaments.”
VPAR Ltd www.vpar.com
R&A www.RandA.org