Maiden victory for Florian Pogatschnigg in Belek

Belek/Turkey (mat/tki) – Austrian Florian Pogatschnigg is the winner of the 2012 Sueno Dunes Classic in Turkey. The 28 year old secured victory with a two stroke margin and played 7 under par (66, 69, 65) on the par 69 Dunes Course of the Sueno Resort in Belek. Daniel Wünsche (Germany/-5) is runner-up, Marek Novy (Czech Republic) and Christoph Pfau (Austria) share 3rd place with -4. Due to his great consistency Marek Novy is the new No. 1 of the EPD Tour order of Merit. He finshed 2nd, T4 and T3 at the three tournaments in Belek what sums up to 6103,33 euro so far.

For Pogatschnigg it was his maiden victory on the EPD Tour and also in his career as a golf professional. And it was a very important one: He is now qualified to play the complete 2012 EPD Tour season.

On the final day of the Sueno Dunes Classic 2012 the Austrian delivered a thrilling duel with Daniel Wünsche. While the German entered the Clubhouse with an overall result of five under, Pogatschnigg did a fantastic job on his last nine holes: He birdied the 15th and the 16th to move up to the top with seven under. This margin he saved to the finish. "I can not believe it. This is great! " Pogatschnigg was very happy about his first tournament victory as a professional, after he missed most cuts on the Alps Tour in 2011 as well as the cuts on the first two EPD events in 2012. "This time I just stopped my errors, had a few great strokes with my wedges and putted very well.” The Austrian had the best result on the last day of Sueno Dunes Classic in Belek at windy conditions and with "very challenging pinpositions today", tournament director Kariem Baraka said.

Daniel Wünsche, winner of Sueno Dunes Classic 2010, convinced in Turkey once again: The 26-year-old ended up with rounds of 69, 67 and 66 shots at No. 2 and now ranks number 4 in the Order of merit 2012 along with Florian Pogatschnigg. The Czech Marek Novy has taken over the leadership as new No. 1 ahead of the Germans Björn Stromsky (2.) and Max Glauert (3.). The Sueno Pines Classic (February, 2^nd to 4^th) will be the last EPD tournament in Belek, before the Tour moves to Morocco.

Tiago Cruz takes the lead after 36 holes in Belek

Belek/Turkey (mat) – Professional Tiago Cruz from Portugal is leading after two rounds of the 2012 Sueno Dunes Classic in Belek. With rounds of 67 and 66 strokes on the Dunes Course of the Sueno Resort he is one shot ahead of Swiss Chris Achermann (67+67) and Christoph Pfau (66+68) from Austria who both share 2nd place with 4 under par in Turkey.

44 players made the cut (+4) at the 30,000 euro event and play for the 3rd trophy of the 2012 season on Tuesday. And most likely it will we a tight and tough fight on the par 69 course: a group of four shares 4th place with 3 under par and another 8 players share 8th place on -2, just three strokes behind the leader.

Four share the lead at the Sueno Dunes Classic in Belek

Belek/Turkey (mat) – Three under par, 66 strokes on the par 69 course: That was the result to score at the 1st round of the Sueno Dunes Classic on Sunday in order to share the lead after 18 holes of the 3rd event of the 2012 EPD Tour. The two Austrians Florian Pogatschnigg and Christoph Pfau as well as Ferdinand Osther from the Netherlands and Lee Corfield from England managed to do so on the Sueno Dunes Golf Course and take pole position in Belek/Turkey after day 1.

While Christoph Pfau played a flawless round with three birdies on the front nine his competitors all made four birdies and a bogey. One stroke behind the leaders there is another group of four: Daniel Slott Mogensen from Denmark, Tiago Cruz (Portugal), Swiss Chris Achermann and Grant Jackson from England. The 2nd round of the 30,000 euro tournament will be teed off at 8:30 on Monday.