Everything you need to know from this week's Euram Bank Open, where Joël Stalter claimed his maiden victory on the European Tour
Stalter credits fiancée after maiden win
Joël Stalter overturned a four-stroke deficit to win his first European Tour title at the Euram Bank Open, finishing two strokes ahead of Richard Mansell.
The Frenchman started the day chasing 54-hole leader Robin Sciot-Siegrist but moved ahead after a birdie on the tenth, his second of the day, as his compatriot slipped back. Stalter then recovered from a bogey on the 14th hole with a birdie at the 15th and parred his final three holes to set the clubhouse target at 14 under par.
After his victory, Stalter was quick to credit his fiancée Flora, who was also his caddie this week.
“My girlfriend was on the bag this week," he said. "She has done an incredible job, she kept me going. She's definitely part of my success today.
"It was a horrible day in terms of the conditions. It was tough for everyone. The course played probably 1000 yards longer, but my girlfriend had her smile on and just kept me going. We just had fun. I was playing really well and I just really enjoyed it, even though it was a tough day.
“She’s helped so much and kept me in the right mentality and on track the whole week,” he said. “Instead of being by myself on a day like this, it was a tremendous help. I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Mansell remains upbeat after runner-up finish
Richard Mansell pushed eventual winner Joël Stalter to the 70th hole as a bogey on the 16th saw his title hopes fade, but the Englishman remains upbeat after his first European Tour experiences.
The 25-year-old drove from the United Kingdom to Austria a fortnight ago, and although he missed the cut during his first European Tour appearance at the Austrian Open, he returned to Golf Club Adamstal with renewed confidence.
Mansell started the final day three strokes behind 54-hole leader Robin Sciot-Siegrist, eventually carding a one over par 71 to finish on 12 under par, two shots behind Stalter.
“If you had asked me at the start of the week - would you take a second-place finish on your own? Yes. But with four holes to play when you've got a one-footer to tie the lead, or if you could just birdie the last, it's difficult to swallow, but I'll be back again.
“I know I'll have more chances. This week has given me a lot of confidence going forward. I'm happy with where my game's at so we'll see what happens next.
“I am good enough. I think I've always known that, but this result just... it's been a tricky year for me. The start of the year in South Africa didn't go as planned. I've just been waiting for a result. Now I've got that, just have that confidence."
Sciot-Siegrist goes low at Golf Club Adamstal
Robin Sciot-Siegrist made the most of Saturday’s weather delay to post the low round of the tournament, a nine under par 61.
The Frenchman started the third round three strokes behind overnight leader Joost Luiten and made a steady start to the day with birdies on the third and fifth holes before play was suspended for nearly two hours due to lightning in the area.
After the restart, the 26-year-old stormed out of the blocks with six birdies in a row from the eighth hole, capping off a fantastic display with his ninth of the day on the 16th.
His score tied the course record at Golf Club Adamstal, set by Julien Quesne in 2019, but as preferred lies were in place it won’t count as an official record.
“The delay was good for me,” he said. “I was two under right before and then made six birdies in a row right after. Sometimes weather delays are not great, but this time it was awesome. I hit some really good shots."
Sciot-Siegrist took a three stroke lead in to the final day, and ended the week in a tie for third after he carded a 75.
Ones to watch
Swedish duo Philip Eriksson and Oscar Lengden made their presence felt during the season restart in Austria, both finishing tied eighth at the Austrian Open and tied for 13th at this week’s Euram Bank Open.
Eriksson, 28, was playing in just his 10th European Tour event this week. He claimed his maiden professional victory during last year’s Dimension Data Pro-Am on the Sunshine Tour, which earned him a spot in his first World Golf Championship, and finished in 38th place finish at Qualifying School last year.
Lengden, also 28, was making his 11th start on the European Tour. Lengden is a two-time champion on the Challenge Tour, where he has played since 2017. His best result on the European Tour remains tied fifth at the 2017 D+D Real Czech Masters, but his most recent outings in Austria suggest there’s a lot more, from both he and Eriksson, to come.
Realising a dream
Former Austrian rally driver and Golf Club Adamstal owner Franz Wittmann realised a dream of his this week at the Euram Bank Open as his course made its debut on the European Tour.
After retiring from rally driving, Wittmann teamed up with Canadian Golf Course designer Jeff Howes to realise the project, which proved a difficult task due to the nature of the terrain. It took just a year for the first nine holes to be created, which opened in 1995, a further three years for the second nine to open in 1998, and an additional eight years for the third nine, which opened in 2006.
“It was my destiny,” said the one-time World Champion. “It was not so easy in this area, but it was a dream, and I went through it step by step.”
Golf Club Adamstal made its debut on the European Challenge Tour in 2006 hosting the Man NO Open, which ran from 2006-2008, and returned for the Euram Bank Open in 2018. Wittmann finally realised his dream this week when his course became the venue for a dual-ranking event with the European Tour.
“Everybody said you cannot make here on the European Tour. I say you never know.”
