Maiden win for Jan Cafourek
Haugschlag NÖ Open 2019
Jan Cafourek is the winner of the Haugschlag NÖ Open 2019! The professional from the Czech Republic secured himself the trophy on the first extra hole of the playoff against Frenchman Jean Bekirian. For Cafourek it is his maiden win on the Pro Golf Tour. After 54 holes in Golfresort Haugschlag in Austria both players had shared 1st place with a total 12 under par. On the first playoff hole, No. 18 of the Haugschlag Course, a 139 yard par 3 with an island green, the 16 year old from France unluckily hit his teeshot into the water.
Haugschlag / Austria - The basis for his first victory on the Pro Golf Tour, and indeed his first professional success outside the Czech Republic, was laid by Jan Cafourek in round 2 - and last winter. In the second round of the eleventh tournament of the 2019 Pro Golf Tour season, the man from Senomaty played a flawless round of 66 and with a total 9 under par (69 + 66) shared 1st rank with the Swiss Benjamin Rusch (67 + 68 ). With clever course strategy, precise irons and solid drives he controlled the ball, the course and his opponents and finally was able his strengths on the final day: Physically trained he brought his punches also in the final round on the course, made up good birdie chances and used them.
With an eagle on hole 13 and a birdie on 16 he came back to the clubhouse with a total 12 under par, forcing Jean Bekirian into the playoff. There, the just 16-year-old Frenchman hitz his teeshot unluckily into the water and Jan Cafourek had an easy putt for victory after his perfect teeshot. The success brings him 5,000 euros in prize money and 8th place on the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit, improving by 21 places.
"I'm incredibly happy and proud that I finally won my first tournament outside the Czech Republic," said Jan Cafourek. "In the winter I practiced very consistently, and last week I also played a few practice rounds here on this beautiful course in Haugschlag, which I do know very well and which I like a lot because it is demanding but fair at the same time."
Home advantage
For Cafourek the tournament on the Haugschlag Course of the Golfresort Haugschlag in Austria was almost a home game, as he lives only 45 minutes away and knows the course excellent. "I did not have a special course strategy, but it sure helps to know this course well."
In terms of home advantage, Jan Cafourek is automatically one of the top favorites in the next Pro Golf Tour 2019 Tournament: from 10 to 12 May, the players will be competing at the the EXTEC Trophy 2019 by ATOMIC DRINKS at the Ypsilon Golf Resort Liberec in the Czech Republic. Also there is about 30,000 euros in prize money.