SCHUURMAN TAKES MAIDEN EURO TOUR TITLE

Story and photos courtesy EPBF.

Jolien Schuurman, playing in only her second ladies Euro Tour event was victorious in Podčetrtek, Slovenia as she took down the EPBF Terme Olimia Open, defeating Slovenia’s Ana Gradisnik 7-5 in the final.

The Dutch girl had initially come to Slovenia to compete in the European Youth Championships last week but didn’t have the best of times, trying to build on 2022’s multiple gold medal success.

However, she found her form on the Euro Tour despite being relegated to the one-loss side as she went onto beat a host of big names en route to the title. Having just turned 17, there was a gulf in experience between the two players with Gradisnik a veteran of seven Euro Tour finals including two victories and Schuurman just commencing her journey.

There were 29 starters representing 15 countries starting out on Saturday but that was reduced to the final pair and it was Gradisnik who got the match underway. Both players had visits before Schuurman scratched to give her opponent the opportunity, but a positional error from Gradisnik allowed Schuurman back with four balls on the table. She made no mistakes to take the opener.

However, Gradisnik took the next against the break and a nice safety on the blue 2 left Schuurman with a ‘hit and hope’ shot