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12-14 September 2025

When tournament organisers selected the Kitzsteinhorn Course for this year’s Faldo Junior Tour, they anticipated competitive golf. What unfolded next exceeded those projections by considerable margins, as 144 players from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and Czechia transformed the Alpine layout into a showcase of emerging European talent.

Austria’s own Alexander Zyla’s 15-under-par total of 201 dominated the Boys 16 & Under division while setting the tournament’s overall scoring benchmark across all age categories. The up-and-coming star constructed his triumph through methodical precision: opening rounds of 66-66 established dominance, while a closing 69 demonstrated fantastic composure that separated him from his competitors.

The family dynamics added another compelling layer to Alexander’s victory. Brother Benjamin Zyla, competing in the same division, posted seven-under 209 to claim runner-up honours – a performance that would have won most tournaments but here served as compelling evidence of the Zyla family’s golfing pedigree. The eight-shot margin between siblings perhaps suggests different styles of golf, with Alexander’s aggressive early scoring contrasting Benjamin’s steadier accumulation of birdies.

In the Boys 21 & Under division, Austria’s Tim Hofmann’s 11-under total of 205 emerged from a field that included several players with professional aspirations. Hofmann’s middle round 66 provided the foundation for his four-stroke victory over Fabian Fischer, whose tournament-low 64 in round one demonstrated the scoring potential available to those who could harness the high-altitude conditions.

The international composition of leaderboards reflected European junior golf’s evolving landscape. Elena Duduleanu finished second in Girls 16 & Under behind Austria’s Sophie Willschke, while the Czech Republic’s representation throughout multiple divisions indicated the sport’s geographic expansion beyond traditional European powerhouses.

Willschke’s victory at four-over 220 illustrated the Kitzsteinhorn Course’s defensive capabilities when conditions shifted. Her opening rounds of 71-71 provided a sufficient buffer to withstand a challenging final-day 78, highlighting the mental fortitude required for championship golf at any level.

The Girls 21 & Under division produced the tournament’s only tie, as Austria’s Marie Catrin Witzmann and Slovakia’s Barbora Vinkler both reached two-under 214. Their shared championship reflected similar scoring ability and comparable strategic thinking across three rounds of varying conditions.

Individual shot-making produced the weekend’s most memorable moment when Larissa Lang holed her tee shot on the par-3 14th during Sunday’s final round. The ace, witnessed by the following groups and gallery members, transformed a routine tournament round into a lasting memory for Lang.

The Kitzsteinhorn Course itself deserves recognition for accommodating such diverse skill levels while maintaining championship integrity. At 6,200 meters from the back tees, the layout demands strategic thinking over pure distance, rewarding course management and iron play precision over driving length – qualities that translate effectively to professional golf.

The tournament’s status within the European junior golf hierarchy ensures all age category winners earn invitations to the 29th European Grand Final at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club in the UAE. There, they will compete against champions from all other Faldo Junior Tour tournaments across the continent for the ultimate test of European golf. This event, along with all others, carries WAGR and European Golf Ranking status, ensuring that strong performances translate into valuable ranking points that influence future tournament invitations and development opportunities.

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