Angel Hidalgo posted four consecutive rounds of 68 to win the Big Green Egg German Challenge powered by VcG at Wittelsbacher Golfclub and claim his maiden European Challenge Tour title.
The Spaniard started the day one shot behind overnight leader Lukas Nemecz but managed to storm ahead by posting five birdies on the front nine. Two bogeys on the back nine brought Road to Mallorca Number One Santiago Tarrio and Austria’s Nemecz into contention but making par on the last three holes was enough to secure victory, finishing on 12 under par, two shots clear of Tarrio and Nemecz.
The 23-year-old received a last-minute invite to play at Wittelsbacher Golfclub and is ecstatic with his victory, surpassing his goal of trying to stay within the top 70 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
“Amazing, honestly it feels amazing,” he said. “I didn’t expect it because I started the year on the Alps Tour and I only have a few wildcards for the Challenge Tour. I started really well on the Alps Tour and the Spanish Federation gave me the opportunity to play a few Challenge Tour events and I played quite well.
“The first step was Italy, I finished sixth and I thought I could earn my Challenge Tour card from here and when I played in Denmark and I finished third it took all the pressure off me.
“Honestly the goal was to finish top 70 this year or take the card from the Alps Tour, but this is another level and I’m so happy right now.”
Hidalgo admits that compatriots Tarrio and Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, who have three collective Challenge Tour titles to their name and both finished inside the top ten this week, gave him the confidence required to earn his maiden victory.
“I think this is the first week I played with Alfredo, and I played the practice round with him and I promise you he helped me a lot. He helped a lot with strategy as he knows how to play the courses, so it’s absolutely amazing and I’ve played a lot with Santiago.
“On the front nine I honestly played so well, maybe the best nine holes I’ve ever played, constantly hitting good shots close to the hole and putting well.”
“I felt a bit of pressure, especially when I made bogey on the 11th, but I still had the lead by three shots and I made a really good putt on the 13th from the front of the green and a crucial putt on 14 to make par and at that moment I could relax a little.”
Four players finished in a tie for fourth position on nine under par including South African Hennie Du Plessis, B-NL Challenge Trophy winner Garcia-Heredia, Max Schmitt of Germany and Norway’s Jarand Ekeland Arony.
Four-time European Tour winner Matteo Manassero finished in eighth position on eight under par with Germans Thomas Rosenmüller and Matthias Schmid sharing ninth place on seven under.
The next stop on the Road to Mallorca will be the Hopps Open de Provence, taking place at Golf International de Pont Royal in France from September 16-19.
