Joost Luiten shot an excellent 63 to top the leaderboard at the Euram Bank Open in Austria. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JOOST Luiten has reached the summit in Austria for the second time in two weeks.

The Dutchman opened up a two-shot lead at after the second round at the Euram Bank Open.

The six-time European Tour winner carded a seven-under par 63 – adding to his five-under par first round – to get to 12-under.

Luiten said: “You never want to finish with a bogey. I missed the green, hit a decent chip and missed a short putt from about eight feet.

“All in all, it was a good day and I don’t want to ruin it just because of the bogey on the last. I need to take the positives into the weekend.

“There were 17 great holes really, I haven’t been in a lot of trouble or missed a lot of greens – even though it was tricky out there with the wind picking up a bit and the rain coming in. I’m really happy with seven-under.

“It was more difficult than yesterday, because of the wind. It’s hard to judge where it comes from up in the mountain.

“In the middle of the round it really picked up and when the rain came in it died down a little again. It was a tough day.”

Eriksson chasing Luiten at Adamstal

JOOST Luiten sits two strokes ahead of Sweden’s Philip Eriksson and Frenchman Joël Stalter at Golf Club Adamstal.

The 34-year-old pre-tournament favourite also led last week’s Austrian Open after the first round, eventually finishing in a share of 18th place.

Luiten started the day with two birdies and an eagle on his first five holes. He made another gain on the ninth, going out in just 31 strokes.

Three birdies followed on the back nine before he signed for a 63 after a bogey on the last.

Eriksson who, like Luiten, made a strong start last week at Diamond Country Club, carded a four-under par 66.

That saw him join Stalter in second place after the 28-year-old carded his second consecutive round of 65.

Eriksson said: “I’m playing pretty similar to last week – solid golf and hitting the putter really well. It’s good fun playing out there right now.

“This is what you want, coming out to the first tournaments, being in contention right away and feeling the heat.

“I’ve tried to get some practice back home, challenging friends. But it’s not really the same. Nothing beats playing in a big tournament like this.”

Golf Club Adamstal is hosting the Euram Bank Open, in the lower Austrian Alps

Card-trickster Stalter rediscovers magic

STALTER, who won five times playing college golf at University of California, is famous for his sleight of hand card tricks on Tour.

And the magic was definitely there for France’s former No. 1 ranked amateur, who has just one Challenge Tour win to his name, back in 2016.

Stalter said: “I had a great round today. I really had it going on the front nine and then on the back nine I gave myself a lot of chances.

“I didn’t make them but it’s still really solid. Bogey-free round – you’ll always take those.

“The pins were tucked. It was windy but I gave myself a lot of chances.

“I had six feet for birdie on 13, 10 feet for birdie on 14. I just didn’t make those, and on 16 I lipped out.

“It was tough to get close to the pins, but great playing. That’s golf, you make some putts, then cool down. At the end of the day it’s a great round.”

Stalter is playing in his 42nd European Tour event in this week’s dual-ranking event with the Challenge Tour.

His 16th place finish on the Order of Merit in 2016 earned the last card for the European Tour in 2017, but he finished 132nd on the Race to Dubai.

Brun back with a bang after 64 – bettered by Scott’s 62

ANOTHER Frenchman – Julien Brun – making his first appearance since the Lalla Aïcha Challenge Tour in October, carded a six-under 64, moving to fourth place on nine-under.

In fifth place are Sweden’s Christofer Blomstrand, American John Catlin, Australia’s first-round leader Deyen Lawson and Scotland’s Chris Robb – all on eight-under.

Spaniard Scott Fernandez carded the lowest round of the day, an eight-under 62, to join seven others in a share of ninth place.

•For live scoring and to follow Joost Luiten in Friday’s third round click here.

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The Diamond Country Club will host an event on the European Tour for the 10th year in a row in July after it was confirmed the Austrian Open will go ahead as planned from July 9-12

THE European Tour has brought forward the date its tournaments will resume by a week – with the Austrian Open, now going ahead at Diamond Country Club in July.

The news marks the return of the European Challenge Tour which resume its 2020 season with the Euram Bank Open a week earlier.

And the decision to hold back-to-back dual ranking events in Austria next month is a big boost for those players with limited playing opportunities in Europe, and who have no status on the PGA Tour in America.

The Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club, takes place from July 9-12.

It marks the return of the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca after a five-month pause following the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

It will be followed by the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal, which remains in its original slot on the calendar – but now begins a day earlier, taking place from Wednesday, July 15 to Saturday, July 18.

Both tournaments will have prize funds of €500,000.

The European Tour will full resumes its 2020 season with the Betfred British Masters Hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House, near Newcastle, from July 22-25 – also a day earlier than originally planned.

The Challenge Tour’s resumption will be five months after Christian Bezuidenhout won South Africa’s Dimension Data Pro-Am.

That win conclude three consecutive weeks in South Africa at the start of the 2020 Challenge Tour season.

From South Africa to Austrian Alps

BEZUIDENHOUT’S victory at Fancourt Golf Estate, in February, followed a win for fellow South African JC Ritchie in the Limpopo Championship, at Euphoria Golf Club.

Sweden’s Anton Karlsson was victorious in the RAM Cape Town Open, at Royal Cape Golf Club during the South African swing.

On the European Tour, the two dual-ranking events in Austria precede the Tour’s full return at the Betfred British Masters at Close House, in the North East.

That event launches a six-week UK swing, alongside the English Open at the Marriott Forest of Arden, the English Championship at Hertfordshire’s Marriott Hanbury Manor, the Celtic Classic and the Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort, and the UK Championship at The Belfry.

It will be the third consecutive year the Euram Bank Open has been part of the Challenge Tour schedule.

Dutchman Darius van Driel and Scotland’s Callum Hill won in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Calum Hill winner of the 2019 Euram Bank Open at the mountainous Golf Club Adamstal

Medical protocols guide Tour’s return

Challenge Tour head Jamie Hodges said: “We are pleased to announce the resumption of the Challenge Tour season with the Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club – and the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal – two dual-ranking events which will take place in consecutive weeks in July.

“Our measured approach to the 2020 season has mirrored that of the European Tour.

“We have been informed each step of the way by our Medical Health Strategy, led by our chief medical officer Dr Andrew Murray, aligned to individual government safety advice.

“Part of this strategy is to play, wherever possible, in clusters in one territory.

“We are therefore grateful to the Austrian Golf Federation and the two venues – Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal – for their support in making these events happen.

“We will continue to be guided by the European Tour’s Medical Health Strategy and we will announce details of subsequent 2020 Challenge Tour events in due course.”

Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s deputy chief operating officer, said: “These two dual-ranking events provide vital playing opportunities for our members following the enforced period of inactivity since March.

“We are therefore grateful to both Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal, as well as the Austrian Golf Federation, for their support.

“We look forward to visiting Austria ahead of the European Tour’s full resumption with the Betfred British Masters at Close House the following week.”

Diamond Country Club celebrates 10th year

DIAMOND Country Club will be celebrating its 10th anniversary as a European Tour host venue next month.

Its president Christian Guzy said: “Diamond Country Club has a history of exceptional moments at the various events we have hosted.

“For example, the tournament 10 years ago was staged at short notice, and two years ago we held the world’s first Shot Clock tournament.

“Accordingly, we enjoy the trust of those individuals who are responsible for the European Tour.

“Due to the coronavirus crisis, this year’s event also takes place under very special conditions.

“There are official regulations, which we will strictly comply with.

“Nevertheless, we want to hold the tournament to the fullest satisfaction of the Tour and the players.

“I would also like to thank the political decision-makers in Austria, whose measures were a great contribution in ensuring golf was one of the first sports to resume.

“The tournament will be a good showcase not only for Austria, but also for the state of Lower Austria.”

The spectacular Golf Club Adamstal in the Austrian Alps will host the dual-ranking European Tour and Challenge Tour event when the Euram Bank Open returns in July

‘Austria leading way for golf and Formula One’

ADAMSTAL president Franz Wittmann said: “I am pleased we have become part of the European Tour with the Euram Bank Open, and that – together with the Diamond Country Club – Austria will be a pioneer in international top-class golf in Europe, following the suspension due to the coronavirus crisis.

“This is comparable with Formula One, as Austria will stage the first two successive races.

“In our country we can be very proud of that. I hope that with this restart, we can also mark a significant return for golf.

“For me personally, I wish that as many Austrians as possible will be represented on the leaderboards of both tournaments.”

Austrian Golf Federation president Dr Peter Enzinger said: “Especially in these unprecedented times, it is a great sign – and a well-earned accomplishment for golf in Austria – that the European Tour and Challenge Tour will restart their seasons after this enforced break with two events on Austrian soil.

“With so much time pressure, it was not easy to accomplish. But the co-operation with the European Tour and the Austrian Ministry of Sports has been outstanding and successful.

“We are very much looking forward to having these events and Golf Club Adamstal and Diamond Country Club – together with the Austrian Golf Federation – will again be perfect hosts and European Tour partners.”

Golfclub Adamstal was the dream of European rallying ace Wittman – who hired respected architect Jeff Howes to build a nine-hole course in 1994 – it was expanded in 1998, with a further nine holes added in 2006.

The 28 holes – the Championship Course has a 19th hole to “settle wagers” – offers some of golf’s most picturesque views on the Continent.

Austria’s Golf Club Adamstal was founded by European rallying champion Franz Wittmann

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Scot Calum Hill secured his second European Challenge Tour victory in the Euram Bank Open dropping just three shots in 72 holes to win by four shots at Austria’s Golf Club Adamstal. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

CALUM Hill carded just three bogeys in 72 holes to win the Euram Bank Open, his second European Challenge Tour title, at Golf Club Adamstal and jump into the top 15 on the Order of Merit.

The Scot added a bogey-free 66, four under par, to his opening rounds of 65-64-67 to reach 18-under par and win by four shots ahead of countryman Ewen Ferguson and Portugal’s José -Filipe Lima, who both finished on 14 under par following final rounds of 64 and 65, respectively.

Prior to this week, Hill had endured a mixed season with two top 10s and three missed cuts from eight starts.

However, a tie for 26th place at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open last week offered glimpses of a return to the type of form which saw him win in only his fifth Challenge Tour start last year, and with his tremendous performance in Austria, he has showed he is truly back to his best.

Hill, a member at Craigie Hall, said, “I’ve been saying it my coach, management team and parents that I’ve felt like my game was in a nice position, but I haven’t been managing it particularly well.

“I wasn’t missing in the correct spot if I was missing or my short game wasn’t tight enough to get up and down all the time, so I was making quite a few errors that were a little uncharacteristic, so my scoring was quite poor.

“There were little glimpses of it coming together with a few low scores, but I’ve tightened it up in the last couple of weeks and I’m scoring a lot better.

“I’m very happy with how the day and the week has gone. It’s fantastic to get another win and not only secure next year but it will hopefully push me forward to finishing in the top 15.”

The 24-year-old, who won the Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open, entered the final round with a three-shot lead from Kent’s Matt Ford in second place.

However that advantage had disappeared by the time the duo reached the fifth tee box following a quick start by the Englishman, but the leaderboard getting tighter only heightened Hill’s focus.

“In my mind, I thought if I got to 20-under, I should win on that number, but three holes in, I was tied,” Hill said.

“Matt had a really good start and we were all square through four holes, so it tightened it up a little and made it more interesting. I had to focus and minimise the errors and make a few birdies along the way to try and give myself a chance.

“I was hitting really nice golf shots, but my putts just weren’t dropping. They weren’t great rolls but I think I eased into my putting a little slower than I eased into my long game.

“I wasn’t worried about not keeping up with Matt because I felt like I could keep plotting away and make fewer errors.

“I figured that if I could get to three or four-under, then he would have to get to eight-under and you’ve got to play great golf to get that deep.”

Ferguson flew up the leaderboard on day four to secure his best Challenge Tour finish of tied second with Lima, both of whom kept the bogeys off the card and in doing so finished one shot clear of Ford, Grégory Havret, Rikard Karlberg and Oliver Lindell – who all shared fourth place on 13-under.

Frenchman Ugo Coussaud and Poland’s Adrian Meronk completed the top 10 having finished on 12-under, with both men carding four-under par rounds of 66.

Meanwhile, two-time European Tour winner Julien Quesne set a new course record at Golf Club Adamstal after signing for a superb nine-under par round of 61, beating the previous record by one.

With his win, Hill jumps to sixth place in the Challenge Tour Rankings while Ferguson’s second place moves him onto the cusp of the top 15, in 17th spot.

After a week’s break in the international schedule, the Challenge Tour will travel to Finland for the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge, from August 1-4.

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Scotland’s Calum Hill who continued his good form at last week’s Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club to lead at the halfway mark when returning to play in the Euram Bank Open on the European Challenge Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

CALUM Hill leads the Euram Bank Open on 11-under par at the halfway stage after posting a bogey-free 64 on day two at Austria’s Golf Club Adamstal.

The Scot added a six-under par round to his opening five-under 65 to overhaul first round leader Marcel Schneider, who heads into the weekend as Hill’s nearest challenger after carding a one-under par second round to leave him two shots back on nine-under

Hill finished as the low Scot at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open – last week’s Rolex Series event – and he has continued that form upon his return to the European Challenge Tour.

Hill said: “I’m happy with how things have panned out over the last couple of days. I’ve hit some nice golf shots and holed some putts so I’m in a nice position.

“I hit a lot of really good golf shots. I hit a poor wedge shot on my second hole, the 11th, which ended up in the right bunker – but I got that up and down and I wasn’t in too much trouble for the rest of the round.

“I had a couple of close looks, missed a handful but also made a couple so it worked out a nice score in the end.

“I hit a really good drive on the last which was just left of the trees and I had 74 yards to the pin and I put it to four feet before rolling that in. So it was nice to sign off the round with that,” Hill added.

The Kirkcaldy native played alongside three-time European Tour winner Grégory Havret, who also posted a six-under 64 to head into the weekend in a tie for 12th, and Hill admitted it helped to have the momentum of playing with someone who was also scoring freely.

Hill, who is attached to Gleneagles, said: “Every single shot Greg hits is of really high quality. It’s always a nice golf shot so you’re never stepping into your one thinking ‘oh gosh!’.

“You’ve always got a good vibe going into your shots, so it is nice to have that momentum in your group.

“I don’t find playing with Greg that different to playing with anyone else, despite his success. He’s just a really nice guy and very chatty, so it’s really relaxing,” said Hill who won last year’s Northern Ireland Open in just his fifth start on the Challenge Tour.

Hill and Havret were only bettered on day two by French duo Edouard Dubois, who posted a seven-under 63, and Antoine Schwartz, who tied the course record of 62 with Marcel Schneider, whose opening effort on day one saw him join Borja Virto on the honours board after the Spaniard set the record in 2018.

Behind Schneider is Kent’s Matt Ford, Switzerland’s Raphael de Sousa, Chle’s Felipe Aguilar, and Finland’s Oliver Lindell, who share third place on eight-under.

Then comes a group of six players on seven-under all tied for seventh, including Dubois and Schwartz, along with fellow Frenchman Joel Stalter, Jordan Mixed Open winner Daan Huzing, Germany’s Nicolai von Dellingshausen and Finn Mikael Salminen.

In total, 69 players survived the 36-hole cut of one under par and the third round will begin at 7.30am local time on Saturday.

For live scoring in the third round click here.

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