NATIONAL NEWS - Otto von Buynder defeated fellow Gauteng North player Keegan McLachlan at the first play-off hole to lift the inaugural Tshwane Junior Open title on Friday.
The pair ended regulation play tied at four-over-par 148 after Von Buynder signed for a 78 and McLachlan carded a 77 at Pretoria Country Club.
Von Buynder produced a superb four at the par-four 10th to seal his first national junior victory in extra time.
“I am absolutely thrilled that I got the job done,” said the elated TuksSport Golf Academy player.
McLachlan reached 18 with a two shot lead over Von Buynder in regulation play, but squandered the advantage with a double-bogey.
Von Buynder responded with a well-timed six-iron into the green at the par-five and two-putted for birdie to force the play-off.
McLachlan split the 10th fairway and Von Buynder pushed his tee shot into the trees on the right.
“I thought it was all over, but I had a clean shot to the green, so I hit a lob-wedge over the trees and the ball finished about 25 feet from the pin,” Von Buynder said.
“Keegan overshot the green with his second. He chip up, but the ball rolled back down and he had to chip again. I lagged my first putt close and tapped in for par while he putted for bogey.
“After the bogey, triple-bogey start I couldn’t imagine that I would win, but I just kept grinding. It was quite tough out there, because it was bitterly cold and the wind was pumping.
“I kept my eye on the leaderboard through the round and I knew that I was keeping in touch. When we got to 18, I knew I had to make a birdie at the last. I am really pleased with the way I executed my plan for that hole to get into the play-off. Winning my first national title fighting like I did is awesome.”
Southern Cape’s Alex van Wyk carded a 73 to finish a further stroke back in joint third with Slade Pickering from North West, who closed with a 77.
KwaZulu-Natal’s Luke Mayo (74), Kyle Barker (74) from Central Gauteng, Werner Deyzel (77) from Gauteng North and Ekurhuleni’s Dylan Mostert (78) shared fifth on 150.
Von Buynder stole the show, but four other juniors were also given a reason to smile.
Mayo, Western Province’s Luca Filippi, reigning Nomads SA Boys U-17 champion Herman Loubser and Wilco Nienaber from Free State were named to represent the South African Golf Association at the 2015 Italian International Under-16 Championship and Nations Cup in Italy in September.
FINAL RESULT
148 Otto van Buynder 70 78; Keegan McLachlan 71 77
149 Alex van Wyk 76 73; Slade Pickering 72 77
150 Luke Mayo 76 74; Kyle Barker 76 74; Werner Deyzel 73 77; Dylan Mostert 72 78
151 Matt Saulez 77 74; Therion Nel 76 75
152 Ruan Pretorius 73 79
153 Morne van Wyk 81 72; Juan-Pierre Cooper 78 75; Martin Vorster 77 76; Steven le Roux 77 76
154 Dawid Opperman 69 85
155 Etienne J van Rensburg 78 77; Alan Lones 76 79
156 Kyle De Beer 83 73; Lourens J van Vuuren 82 74
158 Tristan Brice 79 79; Luke Brown 78 80
159 Jacques Brits 84 75; Eric Wowor 79 80; Vaughn van Deventer 76 83
160 Chris Woollam 81 79; Ivan Mare 80 80; Estiaan Conradie 77 83; Brandon Gildenhuys 76 84
161 Nikola Uskokovic 82 79; Willie Olivier 82 79; Jordan Duminy 81 80; Cole Stevens 78 83; Gregory Mckay 78 83; Garrick Higgo 76 85
162 Franklin Manchest 80 82
163 Tiaan Maree 78 85; Attie van Wyk 76 87
164 Julien Sale 86 78; Ian Jacobs 86 78; Haydn Driver 82 82; Liam Mc Ilroy 81 83; Wilco Nienaber 79 85; Christiaan Burke 78 86
165 Jan-louis Nel 87 78; Chandler Shaw 83 82; Sheldon-Lee van der Berg 79 86; Ben van Wyk 79 86; Dino Capazario 79 86; Tristan Maharaj 78 87
166 Cameron Borcher 86 80; Leander Snyman 84 82; Caylum Boon 82 84
167 Franco Putter 88 79; Richard Rodrigues 85 82; Fritz Orren 79 88; Brandon Geere 77 90
168 Angus Klintworth 85 83; Llewellyn Booysen 84 84; Gustav Oosthuizen 82 86
169 Kyle Klopper 83 86
170 Adriaan Hamman 84 86
171 Shaun Jones 85 86; Johann Burke 84 87; Herman Anderson 83 88; Cameron Walker 82 89; Andre van Dyk 79 92
174 Francois van Staden 87 87
177 Kifentse Nukeri 96 81
DQN Liam Bezuidenhout 101 DQN
WD Ge-Rico Muller WD; Nyameko Heshu WDArticle by Lali Stander - The Write Word Sports Media Consultants
