Playoff-victory for Stanislav Matus
Haugschlag NÖ Open 2016
Stanislav Matus from the Czech Republic is the winner of the Haugschlag NÖ Open 2016.
After two rounds of the Haugschlag NÖ Open 2016 in Lower-Austria Stanislav Matus from the Czech Republic already looked like the winner of the tournament as he was leading with 17 under par, 4 strokes ahead of his opponents. But on the final day of the event Scotsman Chris Robb scored great and forced Matus into a playoff. But the man from Prague secured himself his maiden victory on the Pro Golf Tour on the second extra-hole.
Haugschlag/Austria − “It took a long time, but now it simply feels great!” With pleasure Stanislav Matus accepted the trophy of the Haugschlag NÖ Open 2016, symbol of his first victory on an international tournament. The 27-year-old, born in Ostrau but currently living in Prague, has had a thrill of anticipation over the last few weeks due to the event in Haugschlag: “ I know the course very well and I’m aware of the high quality especially the great greens!” A condition that allowed Matus to use his biggest strength: Great putts out of a distance. All in all 17 birdie-putts were played by the Czech on the first two rounds, which kept him in a safe distance with four strokes advantage of his opponents.
But Matus was aware of the fact that the other competitors will give everything on the final day to take over his leadership. “The course allows good results but I didn’t think they could catch up that quick”, so the champion. Jonas Kölbing with a 63, Julian Kunzenbacher with six and Chris Robb with seven strokes under par filled the gap between them and Matus, who achieved two birdies and his only bogey of the tournament on the final day. Chris Robb who had started into the third round with an eagle played a flawless round of 65 with 5 birdies, overall also 18 under par like Matus: Play-off!
“There’s been incredibly many birdies caused by those fantastic greens”, Matus, who won by playing par on the second extra-hole, said.
The Haugschlag NÖ Open has been the first out of three Pro Golf Tour events that are held in Austria this year. On Monday the Adamstal Open 2016 powered by EURAM Bank AG will start in Ramsau, followed by the St Pölten Pro Golf Tour 2016 presented by Diners Club in Neidling. Defending champions are Olivier Rozner from France and Dutchman Reinier Saxton.