Finland
Tim Wiedemeyer is the 2026 European Amateur Champion. The 21-year-old German made amends for a near miss in the same event in Denmark in 2024 by closing out the 54-hole lead to claim the European men's individual crown.
Wiedemeyer had to fight back from a slow start on Wednesday. An opening 73 (+1) in Round 1 put the German in a tie for 80th position heading into Thursday. A second round 65 (-6) put the German back in the mix before another -6 on Friday saw him take control of the tournament.
Starting the final round with a two-stroke advantage, Wiedemeyer saw his lead disappear on hole 1. A birdie from Nevill Ruiter in the penultimate group, and a dropped shot from the leader saw the two players tied within the first 20 minutes of the final round.
Wiedemeyer appeared calm however, and rebuilt a multiple-shot advantage at the start of the back nine with back-to-back birdies on the tricky par-4 10th and the short par-4 11th. An additional birdie on the par-5 15th, followed by an exceptional sand save on the 17th all but sealed the title for the German.
It was the second time Wiedemeyer had entered the 72nd hole of the European Amateur Championship with the lead. At the Scandinavian in Denmark in 2024, four consecutive birdies placed the then 19-year-old in pole position with one hole to go. Needing just a par to claim the trophy, a poor tee-shot led to an agonising quadruple bogey on the final hole which cost him the title.
In a post-round interview, he said that that moment did cross his mind as he walked to the 18th tee in Finland, but this time around he made no mistake. A steady par earned the German the biggest win of his amateur career with a final round 68 (-3) and a -13 total.
"I don't know what to think right now" said Wiedemeyer after holing the winning putt. "It's going to take a bit of time to sink in. I'm just so happy to get it done."
"I was just trying to execute my game plan. I feel like I had a rough start to the tournament so the only thing I could do was stick to my game plan and control the things I could control, and that's what I tried to do today."
"Walking down the last couple of holes I was thinking about how I made that nine a couple of years ago, so it feels good to get it done and not make a nine on the last hole."
Round 2 co-leader Nevill Ruiter couldn't make the putts drop on the final round, and had to settle for solo second, two shots behind the winner on -11.
Riccardo Fantinelli of Italy was a surprise addition to the podium. He started the day in a tie for 31st position, but carded the lowest round of the week, a 7-under 64, early in the day to claim the bronze medal on -7.
As the new European Amateur Champion, Wiedemeyer also earns a place in The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. "It's a dream come true to play a major" said Wiedemeyer. "I'm just going to try and learn as much as possible and whatever happens there, happens."
France's Lev Grinberg, the Round 1 leader and recent St Andrews Links Trophy champion, secured the same prize as winner of The Open Amateur Series, and will also be heading to Royal Birkdale next month.
