Haugschlag, Austria – Deep into the final round, several players still had realistic chances of lifting the trophy. Koen Kouwenaar had started the third and final round in the lead and made a more than solid start with two birdies in his opening seven holes. He added further birdies as the round progressed, but occasional inaccuracies also led to a number of bogeys. As a result, both Mateusz Gradecki and France’s Theo Lavergne were able to draw level with the former top amateur at times.
As the round entered its closing stretch, the contest tightened further. Gradecki, playing alongside Kouwenaar in the final group, dropped a shot with a bogey on the 16th, while Lavergne fell back after a double bogey on the 17th. Kouwenaar, however, stayed composed and made his move with a birdie on the 17th. With the help of a tailwind, the par 4 played significantly shorter for much of the field. After a long drive and a precise pitch to a back pin position, Kouwenaar converted the opportunity. He then safely navigated the final test – the short island-green par 3 – with a composed par.
Renewed confidence in his own game
Rounds of 68, 65 and 69 saw Kouwenaar, now a two-time Pro Golf Tour winner, finish at -11. Gradecki followed at -10 in second place. Switzerland’s Mauro Gilardi (-9) secured third after posting the low round of the day, a 67, in sunny conditions in Lower Austria. “I’m very relieved,” said Kouwenaar, who trains at Best Golf & Country Club near Eindhoven. “I’ve been working with a new mental coach since the start of the season, and that’s given me a lot of fresh input. I’m learning to trust my game more, not be afraid and not try to force anything. It feels like a fresh start.”
From a playing perspective, the winner of the 2024 Staan Open highlighted his ability to avoid major mistakes. “I shot 65 on Wednesday and only hit three fairways. But they weren’t big misses, just a few yards off line. From there, I was able to control my shots well and get the ball close to the pin. That was key.” Kouwenaar also spoke highly of Golfresort Haugschlag: “This is my third time here and I’m always surprised by how good the course is so early in the season. This week is a highlight for many players. The team on site does an outstanding job.”
With the victory, Kouwenaar moves up to third in the Order of Merit behind Kristof Ulenaers (Belgium) and Dario Antonisse (Netherlands). Germany’s Nicolas Horder and Mauro Gilardi occupy fourth and fifth place respectively. Following this brief stop on the European mainland, the tour continues in Morocco: starting May 10, the Madaëf Golfs Open 2026 at Tazegzout Golf will be followed by the Pro Golf Tour Océan 2026 at Océan Golf Club.
