George newbie Ben van Wyk continued the nation’s proud custom in the celebrated Amateur Championship when he grew to become the third South African in the final six years to win the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifier in England on Tuesday.
Following in the footsteps of GolfRSA National Squad graduates Wilco Nienaber (2018) and Jono Broomhead (2022), the 22-year-old University of Georgia senior led from begin to end.
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Amateur shares properly positioned
Van Wyk produced a masterclass in his debut in the 128th Amateur Championship, firing seven birdies on the again 9 at Hillside Golf Club for an eight-under-par 64 and a one-shot lead in the primary spherical.
Staying affected person in the sweeping rain over the ultimate spherical, the World No 88 turned in one-over however he rallied with a flurry of 4 birdies during the last six holes for a three-under-par 68 to retain pole place.
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Van Wyk delighted
The 288-man worldwide discipline battled for supremacy, and survival, in England’s north-west, with Eliot Baker from England and Swiss golfer Ronan Kleu getting inside a shot of Van Wyk, however neither might match or higher the Fancourt golfer’s 11-under complete of 132.
“I am happy with the result, because it was real tough in the beginning,” stated Van Wyk, who lately earned All-American honours. “You have to simply accept pars and simply attempt to make the lengthy putts. I simply stayed affected person, caught in there, made a couple of good pars and heated up on the again 9.
“I hit it straight off the tee and I’ve all the time putted properly. I’ve been working so much on my iron play and if
the irons are good, I’m going to have birdie appears. They have simply fallen this week.”
Van Wyk additionally credited his caddie, Norman Seton, for preserving him focussed.
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“It has been great to have my best friend on the bag. He helped me simplify the game. He is also from George. Growing up, since we were like 10, he’s always played well. He always beat me when we were younger. It’s nice to get him back. He is on my bag and he’s actually my mental coach and all those things. It’s very impressive for a young age and he helped me for sure a lot on the course.”
Van Wyk, who received the celebrated Nomads SA Boys U-19 Match Play Championship at Humewood Golf Club, doesn’t consider that profitable the Stroke Play Qualifier comes with any ensures.
“Winning the Stroke Play Qualifier is an incredible honour, but when you look at the bigger picture, it means nothing really, because you start from scratch,” he stated.
“I do love match play, though. I love the competitive nature and the one-on-one format of it. I’ve done fairly well in match play over years. I was really good as a junior, and I played one or two tournaments at college level. In match play you have to get the job done, one match at a time. Like they say, the fun starts tomorrow.”
Nienaber grew to become the primary South African medallist since qualifying was launched in 1983 when he beat Victor Hovland from Norway by two strokes in the 123rd version at Royal Aberdeen, however it was fellow GolfRSA National Squad member Jovan Rebula who claimed the final word prize when he defeated Ireland’s Robin Dawson 3 & 2.
Broomhead achievement his win at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the identical venue the place fellow squad member Aldrich Potgieter edged Englishman Sam Bairstow to seal a nail-biting 3 & 2 victory in the 127th version.
Van Wyk is preserving his expectations low, however he hopes to provide one other robust end.
“Thanks to the University of Georgia, I’ve been out here for a few weeks. This is my first time playing in the United Kingdom, and I have loved every moment out here and I’ve adjusted well to the conditions,” stated Van Wyk, who tied for thirty fifth in final week’s St Andrews Links Trophy.
“These are such great courses and it’s a huge privilege to play in these events and gain experience competing against the best in the world. I’m very happy with the way I played these past two days and I’m looking forward to keeping it going to the match play.”
Compatriots Altin van der Merwe (-7), Tyran Snyders, Jordan Burnand (-3) will be a part of Van Wyk in the knock-out phases, whereas fellow GolfRSA National Squad members Christo Lamprecht and 18-year-old Pascal Gunther should play for spots in the highest 64 of the Match Play Championship in the preliminary spherical on Wednesday morning.
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