Marcel Schneider (-15) and Nicolai von Dellingshausen (-14) continue to lead the Austrian Alpine Open after the third round. The two German players teed off today, Saturday, in the featured group and have confidently defended their positions with rounds of 66 and 65, respectively. Needless to say, they are the main contenders tomorrow, but it’s also worth noting that neither has yet managed to secure a victory on the DP World Tour. Additionally, Danish player Jeff Winther (-13) and Englishman Callum Tarren (-12) are also on the radar of contenders.
Von Dellingshausen couldn’t have left the Gut Altentann Golf Club (Salzburg, Austria) with better feelings, after playing a textbook 18th hole and sinking an eagle putt from about two metres, while Schneider, his playing partner, was unable to make birdie on this par 5. Schneider, in any case, has so far given an excellent demonstration of solidity and consistency, as he has barely had to record a single bogey in the 54 holes played so far. In fact, he is currently on a streak of 39 bogey-free holes.
It’s been almost a year since German golf celebrated a victory on the European circuit, with the last being Marcel Siem at the Italian Open (June 2024), an old rocker. Neither Schneider nor Von Dellingshausen, who are 35 and 32 years old, are exactly the reflection of a new wave of emerging German golf, but it’s better than nothing… German golf is patiently waiting for the successor to Martin Kaymer, a true world-class player, winner of Majors. The successes of Jaeger across the Atlantic cannot be ignored, nor the appearances of Matti Schmid, also in the United States, but German golf is still waiting for its new messiah.
The day was also marked by the extravagant performance of young Frenchman Martin Couvra (-6), who started today six shots off the lead and managed to conquer it with an astounding seven-under in the first seven holes… However, a triple bogey on the 12th hole after hitting out of bounds, followed by four consecutive bogeys (holes 13, 14, 15, and 16) relegated him again. The Frenchman, in any case, does not go unnoticed.
There will be no Spaniards in the fight for victory. The best placed after the third round is Rafa Cabrera Bello (-5), who today signed a good round of 67 and tomorrow even has a shot at his first top ten of the season.
Eugenio López Chacarra (-4) was the best placed of the Armada at the start of the day, but he was not at all inspired on the greens. The Madrid native signed up to fourteen consecutive pars, getting tired of hitting greens in regulation and missing a good bunch of reasonable birdie chances. Finally, a double bogey on the 16th ended up snatching his chances for the final round.
