The week of September 15 to 18 brought Keanu to the picturesque Millstätter See in Kärnten, Austria, where the freshly-baked Reichswald Nürnberg Club Champion competed in his first AUSTRIAN Junior Tour Championship (photo shows Keanu with his European PRO, David Blakeman at GC Habsberg).
At 1-over par 73, Keanu put in a good effort, but missed a play-off in the overall standings of age-groups U21, U18 and U16, after Austrian Golf Federation officials cancelled part of the 2nd day competition.
Viktor Malhorta (U21) and Christopher Fisher (U16), both playing for GC Gastein, as well as Christoph Koerbler (U21) of GC Klagenfurt-Seltenheim, all scored even-par rounds (72) on day 1 and Keanu looked forward to a show-down on day 2.
The youngster, who turns 16 on September 22nd, played a composed round at gorgeous GC Millstätter See - www.golfland.kaernten.at/golfanlagen - which saw him in the leader group at even-par until the last two holes. Taking his driver out of his bag, the 2011 Reichswald Champion negotiated the steep course well, but an unfortunate 3-putt at the strongly undulated green of hole #17 cost him the play-off. Going for birdie from 15 feet below the pin, Keanu's first putt came to rest 3 feet above the pin, leaving him with a delicate downhill-putt breaking to the right. He missed this time around and had to settle for a 3-putt.
Another missed birdie putt on 18 from 14 feet sealed a 1-over par round at 73 for day 1.
Stormy weather subsequently forced organizers to cancel competition on day 2 for U21, U18 and U16 Male and Female Divisions. Tournament officials though conducted a play-off between the even-par leaders in the overall rating of U21, U18 and U16 Male Divisions, which Viktor Malhorta of GC Gastein won over Koerbler and Fisher.
In the U14 Division, competitors were able to finish their 2nd day rounds and Moritz Spindler yielded another good result for renown GC Am Reichswald Nürnberg.
After a difficult first day round of 82, when the youngest member of the Reichswald Men's Team battled with the strongly breaking greens of GC Millstätter See, the hotshot put in an excellent 2-over par 74 amidst pouring rain and fog in the morning of day 2. The reward was a respectable 4th place behind Votjech Kostelka of GC Austerlitz (78, 75 / 153), Julian Rippert of GC Olching (81, 74 / 155) and Hermann Philipp of Colony Club Gutenhof (82, 74 / 156), who took 3rd on count-back.
Congratulations to both, Keanu and Moritz Spindler!
For complete tournament results of the AUSTRIAN Junior Tour Championship at GC Millstaetter See, please follow below link:
http://www.golf.at/turniere/turnierdetail.asp?clubnr=207&turniernr=99325&a=brutto&pk=11
