Donaueschingen, Germany - Christian Bräunig secured his second title of the season with an impressive performance at The Cuber Open 2023. The former Challenge Tour player, who had lost his Tour card due to injury problems, takes a big step towards advancing again with his victory in Donaueschingen.

Despite several hours of thunderstorm suspensions - Bräunig had to play 22 holes on Wednesday - the German champion of 2016 was particularly convincing in the first two rounds. Outstanding scores of 64 and 62 strokes on the Old Course of the Öschberghof gave him a clear lead of seven strokes over the next competitors.

It was a constellation that was not easy to master mentally. The special pressure situation kept Bräunig busy. While birdies and eagles adorned the scorecards in the first two rounds, not much came together on the windy final day. Almost without exception, the birdie putts rolled past the hole and small mistakes brought a number of competitors within three strokes.

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"The big lead felt uncomfortable," Bräunig explained during the winner's interview from one of title sponsor The Cuber's handy modular trailers that served as the tournament office. "I felt like I could only lose. With the wind, it was also a different golf course. But maybe I played a little too defensively. But I also just didn't hit the ball that well. It was an exhausting day, but I'm glad I made it to the finish."

His final round of 72 strokes had nothing to do with the brilliance of the first two days, but was enough to secure victory - mission accomplished for the winner of the Red Sea Ain Sokhna Classic in March. This makes Bräunig the first two-time winner of the 2023 season. "I won the tournament because of the sensational first two rounds, which gave me a lot of confidence. My putting in particular was sensational, but that was also due to the exceptional quality of the greens."

Etchenique again in stellar form
With a total of 15 under par, Bräunig had a lead of three strokes over Andoni Etchenique (France), Owen Edwards (Wales) and Nicklas Staub (Germany) at the end. For his second professional victory ever, he receives a cheque for 5,000 euros. Directly after-wards, Bräunig headed for Wittelsbacher Golfclub, where he will tee off on Thursday morning at the Big Green Egg German Challenge powered by VcG on the Challenge Tour. A foretaste of a possible promotion?

With the triumph, Bräunig moves up to second place in the Order of Merit. The top 5 will advance to the Challenge Tour at the end of the season. Etchenique, who has always finished in the top seven in his last five starts and has not finished outside the top 20 in any of his nine tournaments so far, retains the lead in the overall rankings. After only a short break, the Pro Golf Tour continues next week with the second Austrian guest ap-pearance of the Pro Golf Tour season. Starting on 25 July, the Raiffeisen Pro Golf Tour St. Pölten 2023 will take place at the St. Pölten Golf Club.