Sensational comeback of Daniel Wünsche
Starnberg Open 2018
The champion himself was surprised: After an almost two year break from tournament golf, German Daniel Wünsche has impressively returned. With rounds of 66, 67 and 66 strokes, a total of 14 under par, the Professional from Friedrichshafen secured himself the trophy of the Starnberg Open 2018. On the par 71 golf course of GC Starnberg in Bavaria, the 32-year-old relegated the two Frenchmen Julien de Poyen and Jean-Matthieu Houdayer on rank 2; both carded a total 13 under par for the tournament.
Starnberg/Germany - "We do not often have the opportunity to play such an excellent course. That's why I'm particularly happy about winning here!" Daniel Wünsche accepted the winner's trophy of the Starnberg Open 2018 with a relaxed and modest laugh. He spent three days on the championship circuit in Starnberg, demonstrating excellent golf at a consistently high level, and making a total of 20 birdies on the true and fast greens.
With two strokes back on the Frenchman Julien de Poyen and knocked down with the Russian Vladimir Osipov, he had started in the last group into the final round of the tournament and finally had the best end for himself. After 13 holes, the trio was tied at 14 under par in the lead, then Osipov dropped back with bogeys at 14 and 15, respectively, and a bogey at 16 saw also de Poyen fall back. Finally, after both Wünsche and de Poyen had missed their teeshot on hole 18, a 453 meter par 4, the German moved his ball from the rough with the second blow far beyond the green. Poyen, whose drive had landed under a tree, had a chance for a playoff, but his ball rolled into the water, and he had to record a bogey as well as his opponent Daniel Wünsche.
The German won with a one stroke gap and cashed 5000 Euro prize money and as many ranking list points, which brings him to No. 30 on the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit. The number 1 of the ranking remains the Scot Craig Howie, who was tied for 20th in Starnberg.
"I realized three years ago that my game simply was not good enough to get ahead. My motivation was not full, so I changed a few things. I moved back to Friedrichshafen in my hometown, and took some distance from the Golf. Although I still played a bit, but not regularly", Wünsche says. Last winter he put the clubs aside completely and started playing golf again just this April. "I thought I had to give it another try - and my motivation was back. I feel like playing again! "
How good he is in doing so, he has impressively proven in Starnberg, and also at the two remaining tournaments of the 2018 season, the Matchplay event in Ulm and the season finale in Adendorf, Daniel Wünsche will again show that he is fully motivated for tournament golf again.
