
Defending champion on course for victory

Fabius Wenzlawek leads the Hanseatic Youth Open at Gut Kaden
Rain, sun and strong golf: The first day of the Hanseatic International Youth Open (HIYO) at Gut Kaden brought the 123 participants from three nations typical northern German weather. Johanna Schobben from GC Aldruper Heide, who played a par round, and Fabius Wenzlawek (Hamburg-Treudelberg), who mastered the par-73 course with 68 strokes, coped best with the conditions.
"I am very happy with the first day," said tournament director Dominikus Schmidt from the Hamburg Golf Association (HGV). His marketing agency organizes the HIYO, which is part of a four-way tournament series of the German Golf Association. The HGV's managing director was also satisfied because the constant rain only accompanied the players until shortly before midday. "In the rain, it was just about keeping the score together and playing defensively," said Ben Taylor (74 strokes) from Kitzeberg, describing his tactics.
Johanna Schobben left the course at Alveslohe in solid form with three birdies and three bogeys and is now two strokes ahead of Lynn Niepmann (GC Am Meer) and one stroke ahead of Leonie Breutigam (Hamburg-Holm).
Fabius Wenzlawek was in a class of his own. The 21-year-old managed seven birdies and only had two bogeys. "My long game was very good. I hit all the fairways except for the bogeys and made birdies on all the par 5s," reports Wenzlawek, who competes for Hamburg-Treudelberg but comes from the island of Fehmarn. After graduating from high school last year, he is concentrating on golf: "I want to become a professional, that's my big goal."
Maximilian Koberger (Hamburger GC), Noah Chiger (Berlin-Wannsee) and David Domscheit (GC Öschberghof) are in a waiting position with 71 strokes each. Of the four players with the best handicaps, Jan Frederik Eckhard (handicap -3.2) and Christian Kühl (-3.9/both Hittfeld), Tjelle Rieger (-3.3) and Leander Neuhaus (-3.3/both Hamburg-Wendlohe), only Rieger and Eckhard are in touch with the leaders after the opening day. Rieger is in joint fifth place with 74 strokes, played an eagle on hole 13, a par 5, but missed the par round with a bogey on hole 18. "Bad shots are punished on this course," he admitted and announced: "I will learn from my mistakes today in the next two days."
Jan Frederik Eckhard played a round of 73, but remains optimistic: "My goal is to win this tournament." Christian Kühl is tied for 22nd with 77 strokes, and Leander Neuhaus needed five strokes more than the course standard. The 2022 Hamburg youth champion noted that "you have to play very precisely from the tees on this course." He wants to continue to attack on Thursday and Friday.
The tournament will continue at 8 a.m. on both days. Admission is free. You can also follow the action via live scoring on www.hiyo-golf.de