The 2023 European champions of golfers with disability have been crowned. After a tense final day at The Dutch in the Netherlands, which saw high winds and a brief rain shower, three players have earned EGA gold medals.
80 players from 20 different countries competed in the tournament this year, which is run in alernate years with the European Team Championship for Golfers with Disability.
Italy's Tommaso Perrino claimed the men's title. After the round of the week on Friday, a four-under-par 67, he'd enter the final round with a one stroke advantage over Sweden's Johan Kammerstad, and three shots ahead of a chasing pack of four players.
The Italian dropped a shot on his opening hole but quickly recovered with birdies on 3, 6 and 7. Although another bogey on the 9th would allow England's Bradley Smith to tie the lead. The Englishman emerged as Perrino's only real challenger after a bogey-free three-under-par front-nine, while all others
The tie for the lead was shortlived however, after the Englishman double-bogeyed the par-3 10th and dropped another shot on the 11th. Two consecutive birdies in the following holes wouldn't be enough to catch Perrino, who signed for a final round 71 for a tournament total of +2.
"It's a fantastic sensation." said Perrino, becomes the first Italian player to win the men's title, after the win. "I saw my friend Juan (Postigo) win two years ago in Portugal and I said to myself this is the event I want to win next time. Now I'm here, I won, and it's like too much happiness."
Bradley Smith (ENG) was awarded the silver medal, finishing two shots back on +4, while Germany's Rene Schwenk earned the bronze medal on +9.
In the ladies' category, two-time champion, Daphne Van Houten (NED) took a six-shot lead into the final round. Although after a difficult, start her closest challenger was able to close the gap within just eight holes. Marcella Neggers (NED), playing alongside Van Houten in the final group, was able to tie the lead with a birdie on the 8th hole.
A quadruple-bogey eight on the next hole however gave the lead back to Van Houten. With both players dropping shots on the back-nine in the tricky conditions, the lead remained relatively close, although Van Houten ultimately edged out her compatriot by four shots to win the title for a third succesive time.
Neggers takes home the silver medal, while Denmark's Mette Wegge Lynggaard earned the bronze medal.
In the seated category, defending champion, Richard Kluwen (NED) looked set for an easy victory after opening an eight shot lead in the first two rounds.
The final round was anything but easy for the Dutchman, who struggled on the opening nine. His playing partner Melody Roccaz (FRA), carded her best score on the front-nine of the week, and with just nine holes to play found hereself just one stroke behind.
She would even momentarily gain the lead after 11 holes, but a triple-bogey on the 12th and a nine on the 15th gave the advantage back to Kluwen.
The defending champion would ultimately hold out for a third consecutive win by a four stroke margin.
Roccaz earned the silver medal, while Graham Freeman (BEL) takes home bronze.
