World League FlingGolf and FlingGolf UK announce expansion for the 2025 Britain's Cup

March 4, 2025 -Amesbury, MA, Bournemouth, UK.Following the success of the league's 2024 Britain's Cup, this summer's Ryder Cup style tournament will see larger teams and growth in the number of European players.

When Paul Barran, the visionary head of New Swarm's FlingGolf UK Chapter, brought his idea to World League FlingGolf for an international tournament pitting a Team USA versus a Team UK in 2024, he believed he was on to something that could grow the sport around his home course in Bournemouth.  He didn't see how fast it would reach not only other parts of the UK, but also to Europe.  In just one year, Paul is expecting European players to join what was a Team UK, in order to form a Team Europe and avenge a loss last year to a more experienced Team USA. 

In fact, expansion is not only happening geographically, but both teams will be larger than last year's.  In this year's Britain's Cup, to be held again at the Iford Golf Centre in Bournemouth, each side will present a 10 person team, up from 8 last year.  Those will include 7 men and 3 women drawn from a competitive field to battle it out during the long days of an English June.

Team USA hoisting the Britain's Cup last year

 "Last year's tournament really lit a fire for FlingGolf players over on this side of the Atlantic" said Barran. "Our players got a chance to see first hand the level that the US players were used to competing at, and starting just after the Cup last year, the team has been eyeing a rematch. But it was the awareness that the tournament created last year that also grew the competitive juices in Europe, and that has led to us expanding our play to European countries and inviting challengers to make the team from further a field."

Paul Barran at last year's Britain's Cup

World League FlingGolf's Commissioner, John Pruellage, is encouraged by this expansion as the WLF supports both teams in their efforts to play and compete. "We couldn't be happier with the direction that the Britain's Cup is headed, and the speed with which it is getting there. World League FlingGolf is designed to support the growth of the competitive side of FlingGolf, and when you get to work with a competitive player and dynamic leader like Paul, it creates an opportunity for everyone involved to grow.  The league is very excited to see new players on both teams compete in the second year of our international event."

The Britain's Cup will again feature Fourball, Foursomes and Individual matches, with the number of matches now expanding play to a third day of competition.  In addition, the Fourball and Foursomes matches will each include at least one pair of co-ed matches.  

Team USA will be led for the second year by captain Austin "Showtime" Ebersole, the #1 men's player in the world, while Team Europe will be captained again by Barran.  Katie "Frizzy" Dawkins, who played on Team UK at last year's Britain's Cup, will be the non-playing manager for Team Europe.

Although neither team is complete, as of today the two teams consist of the following players:

TEAM EUROPE

Paul "Bulldog" Barran (Captain)
Byron "Buzz" Hutchinson
Jamie "Silverback" Kinvig
Annabelle "Razor" Ray

Team Europe brings back four of its star players from the first Britain's Cup team.  The remainder of the Team Europe will be filled out in the coming months in a variety of ways given a more competitive environment across the pond.

Annabelle Ray (L) returns, with Katie Dawkins (R) now acting as Manager of Team Europe.

TEAM USA

Austin "Showtime" Ebersole (Captain) 
Britt "Reggie Queen" Hammond
Obediah "Backflip Birdie" Harter
Amy "Full Range" Lewis
Zach "The Mountaineer" Mulvey
Christina "SommerFling" Sommerfield
Samuel "Scantron" Scannell 

In addition to Austin, Sam Scannell and Britt Hammond are both returning to Team USA for a 2nd year based on their rankings as the #2 ranked Men's and Women's players.  There are also four new additions to Team USA.  Christina Sommerfield, the #3 ranked Women's player, makes the team based on winning the 2024 Season Points Championship and the 2024 San Diego Open, while the #4 ranked Women's player, Amy Lewis, makes the team based on her WLF Ranking and win at the 2024 New Swarm Classic.  With Britt winning the Treasure Coast Open and the Virginia FlingGolf Open, each of the Women's players on Team USA won a WLF Tournament last year.  On the Men's side, Obediah Harter and Zach Mulvey both made Team USA based on their finishing the year with a Top 5 ranking, coming in at #4 and #5, respectively.  Obie made the trip last year to root on his country and his brother, Titus, who was a member of Team USA. 

TEAM USA captain Austin "Showtime" Ebersole (L) and Britt "Reggie Queen" Hammond (R) with the Britain's Cup

In addition to those seven, there are 3 additional Men's spots open on Team USA.  Based on the excitement generated by the play-in spot awarded at last year's Treasure Coast Open, there will be at least one play-in spot on Team USA up for grabs at both the North Carolina Open at the end of March and the Treasure Coast Open at the end of April. 

Sam "Scantron" Scannell (L) and Jamie "Silverback" Kinvig (R) both return for their respective teams this year

According to USA captain Ebersole, the play-in for the remaining Team USA spots is a huge driving factor for New Swarm Tour players in those first couple tournaments of the year.  "The play-in spots being up for grabs in both North Carolina and Florida is exciting for all! Every competitor is giving it their best to earn the right and the honor to represent the United States in international play. My favorite part is looking into their eyes and seeing the fire and passion to book their ticket to England to rock the stars and stripes. I honestly can’t wait to see who will be traveling across the pond to compete with us in June."

FlingGolf creator and FlingStick manufacturer,New Swarm, will once again support the Britain's Cup in partnership with WLF and FlingGolf UK.  The company's founder and CEO, Alex Van Alen, believes that the expansion of the competitive part of the sport translates well to growing FlingGolf at every level. "The entire FlingGolf community, whether young beginning players, families out for a good time on the course, or those playing at a very high level, are all very attuned to what is happening on World League FlingGolf's tour as well as at the Britain's Cup. This competitive play brings awareness to the sport globally and also drives more and more players to focus on their game and lift their play to new heights.  It is a boon for the sport to be able to showcase this top level play for our community as well as the larger group of sports lovers."

FlingGolf UK's Barran is never one to think small.  "The growth this year to include European players begs the question: Can we expand even more in the future?  With FlingGolf being played in over 30 countries, perhaps next year we will see players from Canada, Australia or elsewhere forming a team to compete.  We would welcome them enthusiastically." 

Considering the sport's rapid adoption over just a few years, that seems like a very real possibility.