Bergisch Gladbach, Germany – In the second tournament of the German Swing Premiere, the winner was once again decided in an exciting playoff. This time, Swiss golfer Loic Naas and Italian Agustin Bardas faced off at the VcG Köln Open. After 54 holes at the renowned Golf- und Land-Club Köln, the two were tied at seven under par. They returned to the 18th hole, where Naas secured the victory with a birdie on the second extra hole. For Bardas, who finished second, it was his best finish to date on the Pro Golf Tour.
Naas was surprised to find himself in this position. "During the practice round, I hit the ball all over the place. It was really bad," the 23-year-old admitted. "But afterwards, I worked hard to correct everything. Today, it was all about focusing on every shot and giving it my best.” Naas was already in top form on the first day of the tournament in Bergisch Gladbach. A 67 in the first round set the stage, and after a mixed 72 on day two, he secured a spot in the playoff with Bardas—who entered the final round with a four-stroke lead—by shooting another 67.
Naas: “The best course on the tour”
Although Naas is new to the tour, he made up his mind after spending a week at the Golf- und Land-Club Köln. He couldn’t stop raving about the historic golf course and its conditions. "Honestly, that was the best course we've played this year. Everything was in perfect condition: the greens, the range, and the entire course. The course is challenging and the greens are hard to read, but everything is laid out fairly. On top of that, the weather was perfect. It was great to play here.”
With his debut victory, Naas moved up to 13th place in the Order of Merit. He’ll be celebrating this success at home with his family. "I'm heading home today. The drive only takes about five hours. My family is already waiting. Tomorrow, I’ll help out at an amateur tournament at my home club. In the evening, my mother, who’s a ballet teacher, has a performance. So it’s more of a low-key celebration. But my family supports me so much—I’m happy to give something back.”
After the VcG Köln Open, the top five in the Order of Merit are: Dario Antonisse (Netherlands), Kristof Ulenaers (Belgium), Philipp Macionga (Germany), Max Schmitt (Germany), and Mauro Gilardi (Switzerland).
German swing keeps swinging
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Golf- und Land-Club Köln and the title sponsor, VcG (the Association of Independent Golfers), for making this event possible. Their dedication played a pivotal role in shaping the event. Following the VcG Bodensee Open, the second event of the German Swing has also come to a successful conclusion. The tournament series will conclude on German soil, beginning on June 23 with the VcG Neuhof Open at the Golf-Club Neuhof in Dreieich.
