With the new season fast approaching we are profiling some of the best players from Europe’s four satellite tours. Here we review the outstanding 2017 season of teenager Max Schmitt, who triumphed three times on the Pro Golf Tour while still an amateur.
For some time Schmitt has been seen as a future star. After competing in the Junior Ryder Cup in 2014, the German went on to guide his country to the 2015 European Boys’ Team Championship and then second place in the Junior Golf World Cup in 2016.
The 19 year old also wowed during his first season on a professional tour. Although still an amateur, Schmitt entered the winners’ circle in just his third start in a professional event after firing rounds of 67-64-68 to triumph by five shots at the Open Royal Golf Anfa Mohammedia.
During his ten Pro Golf Tour appearances in 2017, Schmitt won three times, recorded a total of five top-five finishes and didn’t miss a cut.
Last season Schmitt also teed it up in the BMW International Open on the European Tour, where he played his way into the weekend with a sublime second round of 67 – he would eventually finished tied 59th.
Yet to make his debut on the European Challenge Tour, Schmitt will be full of confidence after seeing his compatriot – and Pro Golf Tour competitor last season – Nicolai von Dellinghshausen flourish when he joined Challenge Tour ranks midway through 2017.
Despite being pipped to first place on the Order of Merit by von Dellingshausen last year, Schmitt looks well-placed to rival his fellow German when he starts his rookie season on the Challenge Tour later this year.
2017 Pro Golf Tour graduates: Max Schmitt (Germany), Ben Parker (England), Pedro Figueiredo (Portugal), Marco Iten (Switzerland), Stanislav Matus (Czech Republic)
