Austrian Underdog Stanislaus Amman Defies Odds to Win 2019 Dutch Open

Austria's Stanislaus Amman was the last person anyone would have expected to take home the top prize at the 2019 Dutch Open. Ranked 966 in a field of 32, with five players rated over 1000, his chances of winning seemed slim. In fact, when asked about his prospects before the tournament, Amman himself admitted that he didn't think he had a chance.

"I thought no way," he said with a smile. "No."

However, Amman's game spoke for itself as he dominated the competition from start to finish. Averaging an impressive 1034 golf rating points per round, which is a staggering 68 points above his actual rating, Amman finished six strokes clear of second place.

The turning point for Amman came after the first day of competition, where he had taken a two-stroke lead over then-second-place player Dominik Stampfer. "My thought on Saturday evening was just, 'If I continue this good throwing, I'm gonna win the tournament,'" Amman said.

As the tournament progressed, Amman's confidence grew, and he continued to play at an elite level. However, it wasn't until he took a bogey on a long par 3 that he felt able to relax and know his lead was secure.

"I knew nobody was going to catch me after hole 9," Amman said. "I was the only one who got a bogey, but I counted the score again and I knew it was still six strokes—if I just played par, nobody could catch me."

One of Amman's most memorable moments came on the penultimate hole, where he landed an extraordinary birdie shot to add an exclamation mark to his impressive performance.

While Amman's victory was almost a foregone conclusion, there was plenty of suspense surrounding who would take second and third place. The battle for the podium saw Silver Lätt from Estonia and Kevin Konsorr from Germany go head-to-head in a close-fought contest.

Lätt, who had been tied with Konsorr going into the final hole, ended up taking second place by two strokes. When asked about his experience, Lätt admitted that he was still finding his footing as the season progressed.

"I think it's so early in the season that my game isn't at the level I want it to be," Lätt said. "I played in Estonia over the winter and also in Mijas, Spain, but I haven't competed much."

Konsorr, who finished one stroke behind Lätt, was pleased with his performance, despite admitting he could have executed some things better.

"It was kind of a rough start," Konsorr said. "I didn’t always hit my lines like you have to on this course. But I don't really set specific goals in relation to what place I come in."

The Dutch Open marked the end of Amman's winning streak, but it also showcased his incredible talent and ability to perform under pressure. With only one player from the podium finishers participating in the next EuroTour event, Bluebell Woods in Scotland, Amman will be looking to build on this momentum and continue his impressive form.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/austrian-amman-upsets-nearly-everyone-win-dutch-open