Staff WriterMaximilian Steinlechner turned Schladming-Dachstein Golf Club into his personal playground on Friday, carding a red-hot 61 to snatch the lead at the Interwetten Open with both hands—and perhaps a touch of Austrian flair.
The 25-year-old fired off an eagle, nine birdies, a bogey, and one regrettable double, closing out round two at 13-under-par and two clear of South Africa’s JC Ritchie and Italy’s Filippo Celli. Not bad for a man who admitted he “wasn’t that comfortable off the tee.”
“It was pretty good today,” Steinlechner said, in what may be the understatement of the week. “The rest of my game was very solid, and I was able to hit some great iron shots and take advantage of them with the putter.”
Ah yes, the irons—his steel-forged sidekicks this week at the foot of the Ennstal valley. He credits his comfort on home soil and a junior golf upbringing in Austria for helping navigate this alpine test.
“I grew up playing a lot of junior golf in Austria and I’m used to these kinds of conditions and set ups,” he added. “I hit some great iron shots today, even out of the rough and that is so important around here.”
The Interwetten Open isn’t just another date on the HotelPlanner Tour calendar for Steinlechner—it’s a shot at a first professional win, and a meaningful one at that.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend and hopefully we can get a lot of home support,” he said. “It would be very special for me to get my first win in Austria and that is one of my goals this season. A win would be crucial for me and my position in the Rankings too.”
With local fans eager for a hometown hero, Steinlechner will need to hold off a chasing pack that includes Germany’s Anton Albers, Scotland’s David Law, Peru’s Julian Perico, England’s Gary King and Sweden’s David Lundgren—all tied at ten-under-par.
Round two of the Interwetten Open was called off as darkness fell over the Dachstein peaks at 9:13 pm. Play resumes Saturday at 7:30 am sharp, with round three expected to get underway no earlier than 8:30 am.
As for Steinlechner, the fairways may get tighter, the putts more nerve-wracking—but if he keeps his irons hot and his mind cool, this could be the week Austrian golf gets a new poster boy.
