Österlen pulls at the top after 3-1 against Karlshamn

It was a very gratifying home victory when the Swedish Golf Senior Tour H 60 was decided on Österlen Golf Club's course Djupadal. 113 players came to the start and at the top of the results list we find Markdalen who during the second day's game made an impressive 72-round containing a birdie, two boogies and 15 pairs! We cheer and congratulate! Here you read a report with pictures about the very successful two-day competition.

Of the 113 participants, no less than nine home players from Österlens GK lined up - Göran Höckert, Åke Appelgren, Gunnar Mueller, Anders Albäck, Dan Markdalen, Per Borg, Carl-Magnus Andersson, Jan Törner and Staffan Widerståhl. During the first day's round, we followed the balls where Markdalen and Mueller went.

Birdie on the second and pistol on the eighth

08.51 Jan Wedsberg (Ullna GK), Jan Burgaz (Kungliga Drottningholms GK) and Dan Markdalen (Österlens GK) pointed out. Already on the first tee it became clear that this was a socially competent trio that set out in the wonderful late summer weather. Two pairs and a boogie on the first hole for the trio. On hole 2, Jan Wedsberg's shot ended up in a tricky position in the bunker 50 meters from the green. After getting the ball out of the bunker, it stopped about 15 meters before the green. The perfectly balanced putt rolled all the way up to the stick and straight into the cup - birdie from maybe 20 meters!

After the decision on the eighth, Jan Wedsberg mentions that he will produce his pistol. Thankfully, it turned out that it was only a pistol-like massager that was picked out of the bag. After a short while of self-treatment of the neck and back, Wedsberg was ready for the second shot down to the fast green of the eight.

Fruit time with nestorn Gunnar Mueller

After nine holes, Dan Markdalen and Jan Wedsberg had hit 38 strokes each and Jan Burgaz 44. Here at nine we thanked Dan, Jan and Jan for the company and instead joined Per Möller (Ljunghusens GK, Matti Säyrä (Upsala GK) and Gunnar Mueller (Österlens GK) during their last nine holes day 1.

"Golf is a martial art"

A victory interview with Herr Markdalen is of course in place. Here he is seen in the middle together with the first day's playmates.

72-round the second day, what was it that worked so well?
- I know that golf is a martial art (which not many people know) and I always try to think away the bad and just try to hit fairways and greens, then the score is usually good. Djupadal is very "own" and if you give up a little, it will be 86 strokes immediately, says Dan Markdalen. I hit a lot of good irons, chipped decently and above all I lowered four five putts from two three meters which was crucial I would say. I missed almost nothing gross from the tee on 36 holes which was also good. The only double bogey came after I hit an iron 8 from 116 meters on the 12th on the first lap but I thought I kept the pitching wedge and ended up ten meters behind the green!

How did you celebrate the victory?
- The celebration was a pizza with a glass of wine in front of the Tour Champions on TV.

How are you overall on the H 60 tour?
- Advancement from 15th place to ninth in the ranking, concludes Dan Markdalen.

The first weekend in October, the H60 tour continues at Mauritsberg GK (Race to Mauritsberg) where the 70 best ranked players can participate.

Friday night's 1-0 victory over Hässleholms IF at home at Skillinge IP meant the fourth straight three-pointer for Österlen FF in division two eastern Götaland. The result also meant that Österlen's goalkeeper Festim Bytyqi has now kept a clean sheet four games in a row. We let Bytyqi give his own explanation for the success.

- Look at the matches, we are a fantastically compact team and I do not get much to do. The outside players run like horses and I do what I need to do as a goalkeeper. Today we do not make a great match in terms of play, but we take the fight, says Festim Bytyqi.

"We are compact and control each other"

You seem to be a team that is eager to work defensively. It is rare to see someone who is comfortable and careless with the job.

- That's right, that's our philosophy. We have those technical players, from midfield and up, who can do that little extra but without the job it means nothing.

Tonight you met Hässleholms IF, a very skilled team that sometimes had great ball possession. They also created some situations that could have cracked your zero and thus also the planning of this interview. Among other things, the last post of the match where you were forced to a good save next to one post.

- They shook us a little with their inserts and played fantastic football compared to the teams we have met so far. The important thing is that we are compact even if they get past certain parts of the team. We have tactically prepared for how we will deal with these situations when the opponents have the initiative.

Zero four games in a row, have you done it before in a senior context?

- Do not know, I kept many zeros last year as well but I have planned not to stay at four. Hopefully I can continue to hold tight. The outdoor players do a fantastic job and help me.

During the matches, Festim Bytyqi controls his teammates by talking and giving tips. A confident voice from behind.

- It is important that I am also up and running so that I can warn them if there is an opponent behind. It is part of that we are so compact, we control each other and everyone knows their roles now. Agim (Österlen FF's head coach) has had a great time with a game idea that everyone likes.

Retains number 1 on the back

When we talk defensive play, it is of course not just the goalkeeper and defenders who should be mentioned. Take Adam Barchan, for example, your team captain who symbolizes what we talked about earlier - taking the defensive job.

- Agree, Adam's running meters today are enormous. I'm really impressed. He runs like a horse and wins those tough melee fights. We have many different types of players and we play very well together. The passes do not have to go right all the time, the important thing is that we run.

You have number 1 on the back of your match shirt. No thoughts on switching to number 0?

- Haha, there are some who have suggested it. I keep one, it means that I will come first in the series, Festim Bytyqi concludes.

Österlen FF took their third straight victory in division 2 football on Monday night after a clear 4-0 away game against Kristianstad FC.

Closed first half

Kristianstad started strongest and had the initiative for a ten minute period without creating any dangers. After that, Österlen gradually took over, but both teams' strong defensive play meant that the really hot chances were missed. After just over half an hour, Österlen's Zoran Jovanovic found at least a plug to Furkan Motori who in a good position did not get to the finish. Shortly afterwards, Jacob Blixt bombed from a distance, but the ball appeared just over the Kristianstad goalkeeper's, also Österlen acquaintance Joel Hallgren's, crossbar. A lot of play on Österlen's offensive right wing where wingback Viktor Blixt threatened forward with quick jerks and twists. A couple of times he was close to running through Kristianstad's defense. Half time 0-0.

Zoran Jovanovic gave Österlen a taste start on others

The second half only lasted a couple of minutes when Österlen's Furkan Motori precision lifted a post against Zoran Jovanovic who headed the ball down into Joel Hallgren's right corner. 0-1 and a taste start on the second 45. The orange-clad home players now started a draw, but the often short attack attempts were stopped outside Österlen's penalty area or steered towards the sidelines and no major pressure on Österlen's goal ever occurred.

Kevin Harletun's long awaited goal

After 77 minutes, Österlen's goalkeeper Festim Bytyqi kicked the ball out to the hard-working striker Kevin Harletun, who after the ball bounced to the ball and lobbed it over both the outgoing goalkeeper and the home defensive player. Vigilant. The 0-2 goal was Harletun's first bowl of the season. This is what he said about the long-awaited goal.

- Fun to score goals and not just do a good job without painting, but the most important thing was that we won, says Kevin Harletun.

Tell us about the goal.

- I get a good pass from Festim, read the game and see that the goalkeeper is far out early. I saw the door and lifted the ball away. It is also important that we were able to keep a clean sheet for the third game in a row. Kristianstad joined in the first half then we drive over them. The team that scores the first goal has a big advantage in such an important match, Kevin Harletun concludes.

Both 0-3 and 0-4 came after quick adjustments. Jacob Blixt worked his way through the middle and almost added to his team's lead, but the shot went wide. Reverse roles at 0-3 when Freddie Brorsson pushed forward on the left edge and dropped the ball obliquely inwards backwards where Jacob Blixt met and pulled the ball in the goalkeeper's left corner.

Goal pass and penalty save by Festim Bytyqi

Kristianstad's best chance would come in the 93rd minute when substitute Oskar Blixt first slipped (there were several Österlen players slipping on the arena's hybrid grass) and then hooked a Kristianstad striker when he worked his way up. Indisputable punishment. Festim's stick rescue was also the indisputable - goal pass and penalty save in one and the same match! Final result 0-4 and Österlen has not yet conceded a goal in this year's Division 2 series. On Friday night, Österlen will be visited by Hässleholms IF. Fourth straight? Kick-off 19.00.

Kristianstad FC Österlen FF 0-4
Goalscorers: Zoran Jovanovic, Kevin Harletun, Freddie Brorsson and Jacob Blixt.

The first league goals in a senior context, how does it feel?

- Yes, it really was, we pumped the whole match and did not stop attacking and threatening Brantevik's defense, it was maybe a bit relaxed in the second half but overall I think we make a great match and own most of the match, concludes Mirnes Nurkovic .

"Good combo of young and younger players, because we have no old ones"