A weekend dedicated to the German Youth Champions

From September 12 to 14, the German Championships in the Age Groups (AK) 14, 16 and 18 took place at GC Gütersloh in Westphalia, in the Golfpark Schloss Wilkendorf and in the Club zur Vahr. The German Golf Association (DGV) tournaments were held for boys and girls. The new German Youth Champions are Henry Liebwein (AK 14, GC Munich Eichenried), Konrad Feth (AK 16, Lübeck-Travemünder GK) and Tim Brohl (AK 18, GC Rhein-Sieg), the girls were won by Helena Baraka (AK 14, GC St. Leon-Rot), Anna Bonerz (AK 16, GC St. Leon-Rot) and Sophie Bingel (AK 18, GC St. Leon-Rot) &LC Berlin-Wannsee) by.

AK 18: Sophie Bingel and Tim Brohl successful

Memorable German Championships in the age group up to 18 years have come to an end just outside Bremen in the Garlstedter Heide. With a total score of 223 strokes, Sophie Bingel secured the title with rounds of 74, 77, 72 at her last German Youth Championship. Sara Nüssle from GC Domäne Niederreutin won by far the best final round. With her famous 69 (-5), a new place record for women, the talent from the south in the north jumped from 10th place to second place (80, 76, 69, 225 overall) and was only two points behind the new champion from Wannsee in the end. Johanna Kirch from Frankfurter GC completed the podium, who played very evenly and solidly and claimed third place with 229 (76, 76, 77) strokes.

Tim Brohl went into the final round with a two-stroke advantage from the GC Rhine victory. He was followed by Leopold Hess from G&LC Holledau, who played flawlessly on the first nine holes and put the previous leader under pressure with three birdies. Brohl, on the other hand, had to write down his second bogey on green 9, while he had not yet succeeded in a birdie. The roles were thus reversed before the switch to Back Nine. On the second nine holes, Hess played three bogeys in series, while Brohl stabilized himself with two birdies. Despite two bogeys, victory was no longer in danger. Also because Julius Wunsch conceded a double par (eight strokes on a par 4) on hole 14 after three birdies in series (holes 10-12) and was no longer able to put pressure on the winner. Brohl won the title with rounds of 73, 69, and 76 (218 strokes in total) ahead of Leopold Hess (73, 74, 220 in total) and Julius Wunsch (73, 71, 77, 221 in total).

AK 14/16 girls: Helena Baraka and Anna Bonerz win

Helena Baraka (GC St. Leon-Rot), who started the final day of AK 14 as the leader, remained confident and in the meantime extended her lead among the girls from two to four strokes. When she went down the 18th fairway, she could be pretty sure of her victory - even the final three-putt didn't change that. Baraka won with 217 strokes (73, 72.72) ahead of the disciplined Jinlei Zhong (GC Mülheim an der Ruhr, 73, 74, 72), who ended the tournament with an even par round and a total of 219 strokes (+3).

However, there was a heated battle for third place. In the end, there are three female athletes who win the bronze medal with 224 strokes (+8). Amelie Schmelcher (Marienburger GC) should be mentioned in particular here, who brought a very strong final round to the clubhouse with six birdies and a 68 (-4) as a result. She improved from ninth place to a podium position. Nina Hayley Fischer (Stuttgart GC Solitude) and Emma Lola Holst (GC Hubbelrath) also took third place.

AK 14/16 boys: Henry Liebwein and Konrad Feth win titles

In the youngest age group of young golfers (AK14), there was a head-to-head race for victory on the final day. Timo Issler (Munich GC) started the decision with a one-shot advantage. In the end, however, things got exciting and both players went even par to the tee of the 18th track. There were many signs of a possible jump-off for victory. Issler ended up on par 5 with his second shot on the green and had a very long eagle putt ahead of him, while Liebwein found himself in the rough right of the green. Advantage Issler, most of the numerous spectators present probably thought. What followed was a crime thriller about the last putt. Liebwein (72, 72, 215 in total) had scored a birdie after a strong chip, Issler (70, 73, 216 in total) had the chance to jump off from a short distance, but his putt missed the goal by centimeters. The divided third parties were Julius Gellermann from Hamburger GC (73, 72, 74, 219 in total) and Yuke Lu (77, 76, 66) from GC St. Leon-Rot.

At the start of the final day, there was also an exciting duel for victory among the AK 16 boys. Bjarne Murr from Munich GC, winner of the DM AK 14 from the previous year, had a one-shot advantage over his worst rival, Konrad Feth from Lübeck-Travemünder GK, but saw himself in the chasing role after the first nine holes. With two birdies, Murr briefly came close to Feth again at the end of Front Nine, but in the end it wasn't enough to leave him behind. Feth won the title with a total of 211 strokes and played consistent rounds of 71, 70 and 70 strokes. Murr (70, 75, 215 in total) won the silver medal ahead of Felix Timm (75, 71, 72, 218 in total) from GC St. Leon-Rot.

(Text: German Golf Association)