In a dramatic final day at The Links at Fancourt, the 2007 Ernie Els Junior Tour came to an end with another new champion in the boys’ competition.
It was Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation member Keenan Davidse who triumphed after a magnificent two-under par 71 on Friday morning gave him an unassailable lead after the second round.
”The conditions this morning were difficult, but I did everything right and my putting was brilliant. I told everyone I was going to win at The Links, so I am so happy that it worked. I didn’t hit my driver so well this afternoon, but I played well enough to win,” explained Davidse.
André de Decker, who led after the first round, faded down the field with a disappointing 80 in the second round, putting him well out of contention.
Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation member and Order of Merit leader Siphiwe Siphayi had a poor tournament, shooting three rounds in the 80s, but his closest rival on the Order of Merit, Dylan Fritelli, had an equally torrid time, meaning that Siphayi retained his lead and won the Order of Merit.
Davidse’s win leapfrogged him into second spot at Fritelli’s expense, which means that he too qualifies for the MasterCard Australian Junior Masters in Perth in June, another reason for his understandably buoyant mood.
In the girls’ competition, it was a delighted Bertine Strauss who held on to win by six shots from arch-rival Monique Smit, with rounds of 72, 78 and 74. It also meant that she claimed the Order of Merit title, beating Smit by just 20 points.
”I am so happy with this win,” beamed Strauss, ”I am really looking forward to going to Australia and am really proud to have won the Order of Merit as well. This has given me a lot of confidence and I am looking forward to playing as many tournaments as possible this year and hopefully making the South Africa team.”
Strauss was the only multiple winner among both the boys and girls on this year’s Tour, which consisted of four 54-hole stroke-play events in Gauteng and the Southern Cape played over two weeks.
It will be many tired young golfers who return to school next week to start the new school year, but the performances from these future stars certainly augurs well for South African golf. — Sapa