Third season win for German Martin Keskari
LOTOS Polish Open
With a double bogey on the last hole, Stephan Gross once again had the trophy taken out of his hands for the LOTOS Polish Open: on the final day of the tournament in the Sierra Golf Club in Wejherowo, Poland, the golfer from Leimen went onto the fairway with 6 under par, and a one stroke advantage at the tee of the 18th hole, yet ultimately he ended up in joint second place with the Frenchman David Antonelli with -4. The title went to the Frankfurter Martin Keskari, who prevailed with 5 under par (72, 68, 71) and therefore is already celebrating his third success of the season on the Pro Golf Tour.
Wejherowo/Poland − “That is actually not my victory; Stephan gave it to me at the 18th hole!” Without any visible jubilation, Martin Keskari acknowledged that he was established as the winner of the LOTOS Polish Open 2015, with a total of 5 under par. Of course he was pleased about his third success of the season, which none of his opponents has succeeded in doing yet this year. Yet being sportsmanlike, his first thought was for his colleague and friend Stephan Gross at this moment. With the 5-iron, he hit his tee shot on fairway 18 over 240 metres, it was driven by the tailwind onto a rock on the water hazard in front of the green, and he pursued it so unplayably, that he had to drop. The stroke with the 52°-Wedge went a little too long, the chip from the rough failed, and ultimately the ball fell to a double bogey at this par 4 – that was the end of the dream of the victory.
It was the 17th of 22 season tournaments of the Pro Golf Tour 2015, and it is becoming clear that the decision on the overall success and award of the promotion places is getting nearer. Martin Keskari, the first three times champion this year, impressed in Poland with his precise game, controlled the ball perfectly even on the stormy final day, and above all always has control of the fast greens of the Sierra Golf Club. “That was one of the nicest golf courses that we have played on this year”, says the 23 year old. “Everything is excellently maintained, the greens are very true.” He also used this to his advantage at the 15th hole of his final round, when he putted in a Birdie from three metres away, and at the 17th, where he also played a Birdie from 20 metres away with two putts.
In the ranking list, Keskari has moved up from rank 4 to place 2, the number 1 remains Berliner Philipp Mejow. Stephan Gross is in position 13, and he knows that he “simply needs a victory now”. Because for him too, the top 5 and therefore promotion to the European Challenge Tour 2016, are the declared goal of the season. His fear: “recently, I always burned too much prize money on the final day. A victory today would have really made a difference...”. However, his next chance of a title will be next Monday: from 3 to 5 August, the premiere of the KOSAIDO Düsseldorf Open is on the programme of the Pro Golf Tour 2015.