France’s Joël Stalter overturned a four-stroke deficit to win his first European Tour title at the Euram Bank Open, finishing two strokes ahead of Staffordshire’s Richard Mansell.
Stalter started the final round chasing Robin Sciot-Siegrist, but moved ahead after a birdie on the tenth, his second of the day, after his compatriot carded a four-over-par front nine at Golf Club Adamstal in Austria.A bogey on the 14th brought him level with Mansell, who was playing in the final group, but he responded immediately with a birdie on the 15th and a nervous wait followed as he parred his final three holes, setting the clubhouse target at 14 under par following a closing 68.
Mansell, who graduated from the EuroPro Tour to the Challenge Tour this season, and was making just his second European Tour start after last week’s Austrian Open, finished with a 71 after a bogey on the 16th, giving Stalter his first European Tour victory after battling teeming rain.
Despite missing out on the win, Mansell, who fired a third round 64 to put himself into contention, was still delighted with his week’s work. “If you’d asked me at the start of the week If I’d take second place, I’d have said ‘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.”
The victory was even sweeter for Stalter, as he shared his success with his fiancée Flora, his caddie for the week. He said: “I have been close to winning a few times, but was never able to really push through, so this is extra special. My girlfriend has done an incredible job, she kept me going and she’s definitely part of my success today. The conditions were horrible day, and the course played probably 1,000 yards longer, but I played really well and I just really enjoyed it, even though it was a tough day. I didn’t know I was leading until the 13th hole. Then I took my chance and really pushed through.”
Sciot-Siegrist closed with a 75 to finish third alongside Christofer Blomstrand and Alexander Knappe.
For the full scores, click here.
JOËL STALTER’S WINNING CLUBS
Driver: TaylorMade SIM (9°)
Fairway: TaylorMade SIM Max (18°)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (3), TaylorMade P760 (4-9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG2 (45°), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (50°, 54°, 60°)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x