In a display of nerves of steel and unwavering focus, Frank Kennedy clinched his first professional victory at the Euram Bank Open with a one-stroke triumph at GC Adamstal.
The 18-year-old Englishman, making waves in his debut season, took a two-shot lead into the final day and held firm to finish 13 under par, edging out Germany’s Nicolai von Dellingshausen by a single stroke.
Kennedy’s performance was marked by steady play, especially on the front nine where he maintained a level par.
A hiccup on the 12th with a bogey did little to shake his resolve, as he parred his way through the remaining six holes.
This victory not only marks him as the youngest champion on the Challenge Tour since 2018 but also signals his arrival as a serious contender in professional golf.
Reflecting on his win, Kennedy said, “I’m over the moon. It was a tough day, I didn’t make anywhere near as many putts as I did the first three days, but definitely happy to come away with the win.”
His crucial moment came on the 16th hole where he holed a significant putt for par, providing the momentum needed to navigate the challenging final holes.
“I didn’t give myself the easiest putts on the last two holes, but I’m very happy to walk away and say I’ve holed it and won this week,” he added.
Kennedy’s triumph propels him to 21st in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, securing his Challenge Tour card for the remainder of the season.
His sights are now set on finishing in the top 20, a goal that would grant him a promotion to the DP World Tour.
“Hopefully I can push on for the rest of the season, finish in the top 20, and get onto the DP World Tour.
It’s a big goal – everyone playing on the Challenge Tour is targeting that top 20,” Kennedy explained.
The leaderboard saw France’s Martin Couvra and Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner sharing third place at 11 under par, narrowly ahead of Finland’s Oliver Lindell, Norwegian Herman Sekne, and Germany’s Velten Meyer, who tied for fifth.
Couvra’s performance lifted him 12 places to sixth in the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
At the top, Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen remains the leader with 1,061 points, followed by England’s John Parry.
The Road to Mallorca continues with the Black Desert NI Open, presented by Tom McKibbin, at Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Northern Ireland from July 25-28.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Kennedy to see if he can maintain his form and achieve his goal of breaking into the DP World Tour.
