MELBOURNE, Australia (Jan. 22, 2012) -- Marcel Schneider of the Monrepos Golf Club has won the Australian Amateur Championship at the Woodlands Golf Club in Melbourne. The national team won after a dramatic finish with a birdie on the first extra hole.

Throughout the day, Schneider never had the lead in the final match against Australian Daniel Nisbet (Queensland) and yet the player from Baden-Württemberg was the winner of this major amateur tournament.

As Nisbet was 4 up after 25 holes, the match seemed to be resolved in favor of the Australian. With a birdie and the associated gain at hole 26 Shcneider was soon enough back into the match. Nisbet, however, broke not one, but defended his lead with all his might. With still four remaining holes Schneider was still down but managed two more birdies on the last four holes. All square after 36 holes - the match went to sudden death. Schneider showed nerves of steel and his outstanding talent he has in the past has never been so constant to the square as in this tournament week in Melbourne. On with another first, birdie at the first extra hole, making his biggest title win perfect.

"It's unbelievable, this is my first big success," said Schneider. "This is one of the absolute highlights of my career so far. It was a great match. I started really badly and was always down 2 or even three, but I've never gave up, but always was motivated to keep going and wait for my chances. And this, I then used. I've hit a lot of greens and putted very well throughout the week. "

Marcel Schneider, winner of the SLA-ranking 2011, is the first German ever to win the Australian Amateur Championship has - and the first international winner since the Norwegian Anders Kristiansen in 2008.

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