Second victory for Max Schmitt
Starnberg Open 2017
German amateur Max Schmidt secured himself his second victory on the Pro Golf Tour in 2017 at the Starnberg Open. With rounds of 67, 64 and 64, total 18 under par, the 19-year-old won at the Golfclub Starnberg with one stroke advance towards Swiss Marco Iten (66,67, 63). Itens fellow-countryman Benjamin Rusch finished as third with 15 under par (67, 65, 66).
Starnberg/Germany – A lovely weather with bright sunshine welcomed the winner on the terrace of the Golfclub Starnberg. With a bright smile on his face Max Schmitt was handed over the trophy by Pro Golf Tour CEO Rainer Goldrian and club-president Werner Proebstl. „Because my striking was really on point today, I had a lot of fun playing the final round. The pin positions were really hard, but I managed to shoot precisely. Unfortunately I misread some greens and missed some short putts“, the winner said. Nevertheless, it was a flawless round by Schmitt, who had taken over the lead on day 2 in Starnberg. The golfclub presented itself in a perfect conditions at its Pro Golf Tour debut: „That’s a fantastic course, the greens are absolutely perfect! It was amazing to see some greens like that in Germany“, Max Schmitt said at his prize giving speech.
The German had a hard fight with Marco Iten from Switzerland, just like the week before. But since Iten won at the Gut Bissenmoor Classic and Schmitt finished third, this time it was the amateur to beat the pro. After his victory at the Royal Golf Anfa Mohammedia in Morocco this March it’s already his second title of a Pro Golf Tour event. „It’s really fantastic that I get the chance to play on the tour as an amateur!“ Schmitt now holds the sixth rank in the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit, the Top 5 will earn a promotion to the Challenge Tour at the end of the season. But Schmitt shows himself in a relaxed mood: „The pressure to qualify for the Challenge Tour was way higher at the start of this year. Now I’m not feeling stressed at all – we’ll see how it comes. I think I’m on a good position and of course I’ll participate in the next two tournaments.“
The next event will start on September 3rd as the Wroclaw Open in Poland begins. Not only Schmitt but all players who have a chance to get into the Top 5 will probably fight for the last ranking points before the Pro Golf Tour Championship takes place in Adendorf a few weeks later.