Oxford's Michael Smith can’t wait for the new season to start after topping the British Minigolf Association’s (BMGA) rankings for 2010.

Smith, 25, finished first on the 160-player tour, despite it being his maiden competitive campaign.

Three BMGA Tour victories and a number of podium places, including third in the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings in October, meant he also finished ninth in the two-year cumulative rankings.

Smith said: “I really enjoyed my debut season. Minigolf is a great game that involves a lot of skill.

“Whilst the top players are extremely competitive and the competitions are taken as seriously as any sport, there is a great atmosphere and camaraderie on tour.”

In BMGA minigolf each hole is regarded as a par-two and players aim to score as many holes-in-one as possible.

Smith achieved a total of 200 during the season, which helped him to register four course records during the year.

He and his father Chris Smith both made their BMGA Tour debut at last January’s BMGA National Open competition in Birmingham, where they faced each other in a play-off for the runner-up spot in the novice category, a head-to-head that Michael won.

Chris Smith, 62, finished the 2010 season 26th in the rankings.

l LAURENCE Waters is Carswell’s new seniors captain.

CLUB RESULTS

KIRTLINGTON January Medal – Div 1: 1 M Learoyd 83-14=69 (cb), 2 S Beahan 80-11=69, 3 G Smailes 84-13=71 (cb). Div 2: 1 S Booker 90-20=70 (cb), 2 R Brown 87-17=70, 3 K Wilce 92-20=72. Seniors Stableford: 1 C McNulty 36pts, 2 C Myall 35, 3 A Bowers 33 (cb). THE WYCHWOOD Seniors’ Texas Scramble Pairs: 1 P Trussler & R Evans, 2 K Smith & R Selby, 3 O Chapple & C Gardner. Kirby Cup: 1 P Bentham 86-20=66, 2 P Smith 79-10=69 (cb), 3 S James jnr 79-10=69. Pro Shop Stableford: 1 I Jarvis 43pts, 2 S James jnr 41 (cb), 3 P Gabriel 41. CHIPPING NORTON Stewart’s Swindle Stableford – Div 1: 1 J Pink 38 (cb), 2 R Whiston 38, 3 D Howlett 36. Div 2: 1 T Young 45, 2 G Walker 44, 3 P Gale 42. Ladies’ Winter Competition: 1 S Taylor 35pts, 2 P Maynard 33, 3 J Byrne 30. Ladies’ Committee Cup: 1 R Davies 35pts, 2 M Pettifer 29, 3 S Sinson 28. Ladies’ Monthly Stableford: 1 S Fathers 40pts, 2 P Murphy 37, 3 J Boyle 36. CARSWELL Seniors Stableford – Div 1: 1 T Bolton 46pts, 2 C Himpson 42 (cb), 3 R Bates 42. Div 2: 1 L Austin 48, 2 K Arlott 46 (cb), 3 J Ordish 46.