Second win this season for Benedict Staben
Preis des Hardenberg GolfResort 2016
With a two-stroke advantage German Benedict Staben secured himself his second trophy in 2016. At the Preis des Hardenberg GolfResort in Germany the 26-year-old had a thrilling duel with his fellow countryman Anton Kirstein in the last round. Finally, Staben was able to succeed with a total 7 under par (72,70,67), Kirstein finished second with -5. This victory makes Staben earn 5000 ranking points in the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit and a chance to get into the Top 5 of the final Pro Golf Tour rankings, what would bring him full membership of the European Challenge Tour in 2017.
Northeim/Germany – After he had already won the Ypsilon CUP by Czech One im May, the victory on the magnificent par-72-course of the Hardenberg GolfResort is already the second title for Benedict Staben on the Pro Golf Tour this year. Even though he didn’t play a flawless round, Staben achieved 16 birdies - more than anyone else. „I tried to set my putts as well as possible. I started with a bogey into the final round, but then I kept calm and stayed focussed“, said Staben, wo had worked hard and obviously successfull on his game with his coaches Martin Hasenbein and Jens Weishaupt.
After he was ranked sixth in round 2, Staben was able to climb up the leaderboard and played an exciting duel with Anton Kirstein on the third day. Both players shared rank 1 until the 13th green, but by playing birdie on the 439 meter par 4 Staben captured the lead. The decision was made on hole 18: While Kirstein had to write down a bogey, Staben kept his nerves and secured himself par as well as the tournament victory. The winner earned the trophy, 5000 Euro prize-money and quite as many ranking list points.
Germans Max Eichmeier and Jan-Philip Neuendorf, Englishman James Wilson and Olivier Rozner from France shared the third rank with 4 under par.
Pro Golf Tour final in Adendorf
After the second last tournament of the 2016 Pro Golf Tour season Benedict Staben is now No. 8 of the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit, which is still lead by Frenchman Antoine Schwartz. With 21.555,50 points Schwartz is ahead of German Julian Kunzenbacher (21.363,20 points), Christopher Mivis from Belgium (19.961,92 points),and Germans Max Kramer (17.495,83 points) and Patrick Kopp (15.680,80 points).
The decisions of who will be the overall-winner and who will earn playing rights for the 2017 European Challenge Tour will be made next month. The Castanea Resort Pro Golf Tour Championship, which will be held from September 26 to 28 at the Golfresort Adendorf, is the last out of 19 events in 2016.