Mikael Sorling

Nils Mikael Leslie Sorling (born 8 March 1953) is a retired Swedish professional golfer and golf administrator. He won six Scandinavian titles as an amateur and was awarded Swedish Golfer of the Year in 1977 and 1978.[1]

Mikael Sorling
Personal information
Full nameNils Mikael Leslie Sorling
Born(1953-03-08)8 March 1953
Malmö, Sweden
Nationality Sweden
ResidenceLimhamn, Sweden
Children3
Career
Turned professional1979
Former tour(s)Swedish Golf Tour
Achievements and awards
Swedish Golfer of the Year1977, 1978

Early life

Sorling grew up in Västerås in Västmanland, Sweden, as the oldest of two sons to Leslie, who was a dentist, and Margareta Sorling.

At four years of age, he first tried golf at Halmstad Golf Club, close to his family's summer house in Tylösand in the province of Halland in the south-west of Sweden. He continued to learn the game at Västerås Golf Club. During nine years in the 1970s, Sorlings father was chairman of the club and initiator of the development of the course, later earning him honorary membership of the club.[2]

Amateur career

Sorling was part of the Swedish teams capturing the silver medal at the European Youths' Team Championships in 1972 and 1973.

In 1976 and 1977, Sorling was part of the three-man team representing Västerås Golf Club, winning the Swedish national amateur team championship.

He again represented Sweden at the 1977 and 1979 European Amateur Team Championship. The Swedish team earned the silver medal in 1977.

He also represented Sweden at the Eisenhower Trophy in 1972 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1976 at Penina GC in Algarve, Portugal and 1978 in Fiji. In 1978, the Swedish team finished an all-time best 5th and Sorling was best European individual scorer with a finish of tied 9th.[1]

He made five starts in the Scandinavian Enterprise Open on the European Tour between 1976 and 1982 and finished as best home player, tied 34th, in 1979.[3]

In 1977, 1978 and 1979, Sorling was ranked as the best male amateur golfer in Sweden by Svensk Golf, the official magazine of the Swedish Golf federation.[4]

Professional career

From the position as one of the best amateur golfers in his country, Sorling turned professional in late 1979, with some intentions to join the pro tours, but soon enjoyed too much serving as a club professional at Halmstad Golf Club in the south-west of Sweden and skipped his international playing ambitions. However, he proved his playing skills by winning the Swedish PGA Club Pro Championship four years in a row 1986−1989. The first year, in 1986, as chairman of the PGA of Sweden tournament committee and winner of the championship at the same time, he was replaced as giver of the trophy at the prize ceremony.

Sorling served as general manager at PGA of Sweden for 22 years from 1997 until his retirement in 2019.[5] He has also been a member of the Ryder Cup board, Chairman of the Ryder Cup European Development Trust, and Vice President of PGAs of Europe.[6] Sorling championed construction of the PGA Sweden National championship golf course, near Malmö.[7]

Awards and honors
  • 1972 Most Promising Golfer in Sweden by Zindermans Publishing House
  • 1977 Elit Sign by Swedish Golf Federation
  • 1977, 1978 Swedish Golfer of the Year
  • 1988 PGA of Sweden Merit Sign in Gold

Source: [8][9]

Amateur wins
  • 1976 Scandinavian International Match-play Championship
  • 1977 Scandinavian International Match-play Championship, Swedish Match-play Championship, Swedish International Stroke-play Championship
  • 1978 Scandinavian International Match-play Championship, Swedish Match-play Championship

Source: [1]

Professional wins (4)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of victory Runner-up Winner's share (SEK)
1 11 Oct 1986 Sweden PGA Club Pro Championship BMW Open −2 (71-70-73=214) 6 strokes Abdel Halim 18,000
2 10 Oct 1987 Sweden PGA Club Pro Championship BMW Open +8 (77-74-73=224) 1 stroke Peter Hamblett 22,500
3 30 Sep 1988 Sweden PGA Club Pro Championship BMW Open E (73-74-69=216) 2 strokes Toni Lundahl 22,500
4 29 Sep 1989 Sweden PGA Club Pro Championship BMW Open −1 (70-72-70=212) 2 strokes David Nicholson 22,500

Sourcess:[10][11][12][13][14]

Team appearances

Amateur

Source:[1]

References
  1. Jansson, Anders (1979). Golf - Den Gröna Sporten [Golf - The green Sport] (in Swedish). p. 176, 182, 190, 196, 217, 219, 238. ISBN 9172603283.
  2. "Klubbens historia och ledarprofiler, Bevattning, nytt klubbhus mm" [History of the Club, Watering system, New Club house] (in Swedish). Västerås Golf Club. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  3. "Mikael Sorling Career Record". European Tour. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. Ohlson, Jörgen (December 1982). "Årets 10 bästa" [Top 10 of the Year]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 9. p. 39.
  5. "Hampf blir ny PGA-chef" (in Swedish). Svensk Golf. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  6. "Prestigefyllt uppdrag till Mikael Sorling" (in Swedish). Svensk Golf. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  7. "Ny stor golfanläggning i Bara" (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  8. Jansson, Anders (2004). Golf - Den stora sporten [Golf - The great sport] (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. p. 282.
  9. Jansson, Anders (1979). Golf - Den gröna sporten [Golf - The green sport] (in Swedish). Swedish Golf Federation. pp. 228–231. ISBN 9172603283.
  10. "PGA Club Pro Championship Winners". PGA of Sweden. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  11. "BMW Open, En gammal stjärna tändes på nytt, Nationellt, BMW Open, Instruktörsmästerskapet" [BMW Open, An old star shines again, National, BMW Open, Club Pro Championship]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 11. November 1986. pp. 52, 73.
  12. Anderson, Jörgen (November 1987). "BMW Open, "Micke" offrade sin järnnia, Nationellt, BMW Open, Instruktörsmästerskapet" [BMW Open, "Micke" sacrificed his nine iron, National, BMW Open, Club Pro Championship]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 11. pp. 88–89, 105.
  13. Grönberg, Claes (November 1988). "BMW Open, Sorlings "slagskott" gav tredje raka, BMW Open, Instruktörsmästerskapet" [BMW Open, Sorling's "slapshot" gave him a third in a row, BMW Open, Club Pro Championship]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 11. p. 87.
  14. "BMW Open, Sorling outstanding, BMW Open, Instruktörsmästerskapet" [BMW Open, Sorling outstanding, BMW Open, Club Pro Championship]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 11. November 1988. p. 97.
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