Elissalde wins without a bogey - Schneider has a sniff of a 59
Gradi Polish Open by Emeralld 2023
What a spectacular finish to the Gradi Polish Open by Emeralld 2023: Thomas Elissalde recovers from a slow start to the final to secure his first Pro Golf Tour title. German amateur Jan Schneider sniffs a 59.
Brzeźno, Poland - The 30-year-old from Biarritz started the final on Friday together with his French compatriot Aubin Lacaze (T6 at the end) with a cushion of four strokes. However, a nervous start with eight pars was not enough to stay ahead in the best scoring conditions on the perfectly prepared Parkland course near Wroclaw.
After the shaky start, though, the Frenchman got back on track and took the lead again with birdies on the ninth, eleventh and 15th holes, which he successfully defended with three pars at the end. After two impressive rounds of 63, a solid 67 was enough in the final to win by a razor-thin margin of one stroke at 17 under par. Hard to believe: On the way to his first victory on the Pro Golf Tour, Elissalde did not suffer a single stroke loss over the three tournament days.
Leaderboard: All results at a glance
"It is already extremely difficult to play a round without bogeys," he analysed. "The fact that I made it through a whole tournament really leaves me speechless. I played very well especially in rounds one and two. Today it wasn't that strong, but I had some luck and a really strong short game." His recipe for success: a defensive game strategy. Driver was only used four times per round.
"I've already noticed an improvement the past two weeks, but the fact that I played so well really surprised me," added the winner of the €5,000 winner's cheque. One stroke back, Owen Edwards (Wales) and the German duo of Tom Büschges and Jan Schneider share second place on 16 under par.
Schneider narrowly misses historic 59
Schneider in particular proved to be in unreal strong form on Friday. The German amateur arrived at ten under par for the day on the 18th (par 3) - and pushed his attempt at 59 past the hole. His tally for the day: 60 strokes, six birdies, two eagles and ten pars. "I played well, was able to use the attackable par 4s in particular and then a few putts fell from three to four metres," analysed the 25-year-old from the St. Leon-Rot Golf Club.
Schneider achieved the second top result in his third ever start on the Pro Golf Tour after finishing fifth in Haugschlag. "The course was incredibly fun. You were rewarded for aggressive golf. That suits me," he praised the course at Gradi Golf Club. The team around owner Krzysztof Gradecki (father of DP World Tour player Mateusz Gradecki) once again managed to get the course in absolute top condition for the tournament week.
Andoni Etchenique (France) crossed the line in fifth place at -15 to extend his lead at the top of the Order of Merit. The next stop of the Pro Go Golf Tour is the Öschberghof in Donaueschingen. The Cuber Open 2023 is scheduled there from 17 July.