Tag: South African Open

Texas freshman Christiaan Maas well on his way to be next South African star

“Playing with Ernie was a dream come true.”

Standing on the first tee ahead of the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship last month in South Africa, Christiaan Maas’ eye drew wide. 

Also on the tee was Ernie Els, one of the greatest South African golfers of all time. The former world No. 1 with four major titles is now 53 and is on the decline of his stellar career. Meanwhile, Maas, a freshman at Texas, is only at the beginning of what’s looking to be a promising story. 

Maas played alongside Els the first two days at Leopard Creek in Malelane, topping one of his idols, who’s also a friend and mentor. Maas finished T-17 at the DP World Tour event, capping a stellar fall that included his first semester for the Longhorns. 

“Playing with Ernie was a dream come true,” Maas said. “All in all, probably the best two weeks I’ve had.”

Maas had met Els previously and talked with him on numerous occasions, partially because Maas’ coach and Els are close friends. Maas said Els talked with him about the recruiting process and was supportive of Maas’ choice to go to Texas. 

A week before the Alfred Dunhill, Maas placed T-35 at the DP World Tour’s South African Open. 

Maas’ brilliant play on the professional level at 19 years old is just a glimpse of how talented he is. The 25th-ranked golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking was named to the Fred Haskins Award watch list, which is awarded to the best player in college golf, after the fall season. Maas also captured the Brabazon trophy last year at the English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship. He has quickly risen to become one of the top amateurs in the world. 

And yet he’s only scratching the surface.

“He has got off to a really good start,” Texas men’s golf coach John Fields said. “He’s an absolutely wonderful kid. Everybody loves him in South Africa.”

Fields was able to go to South Africa and watch Maas compete, which he said was an incredible moment for him. 

It meant a lot to Maas, too, to have his coach come and support him during the couple months off from college golf. 

Maas took a couple weeks off after his appearances on the DP World Tour to rest and refresh before the spring college season. Texas is the defending national champion, and though the Longhorns had a slow start in the fall season, Maas isn’t worried about that carrying over to the spring. 

“Our goal is to win a national championship,” Maas said. “If we can reach the match play at NCAAs, we’ll definitely have a chance.”

On a personal level, Maas said he wants to win a couple college events this spring. He came close in the fall, finishing third at the Ben Hogan Collegiate at Colonial Country Club, where the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge is contested. He also placed 12th at the Stephens Cup.

Maas notes the changes and adjustments he had to make to playing golf in the United States mostly compared to at home. There’s a premium on hitting the fairway and avoiding the rough around putting surfaces. Having the ability to practice at Texas has helped him adjust quickly. 

The Longhorns’ spring slate kicks off later this month at the Southwestern Invitational in Westlake Village, California. It’s there Maas will look to continue building off his low amateur honors in South Africa and making a name for himself. 

And he’s got his eyes on a big prize. Doing what Gordon Sargent did last year, winning the NCAA title as a freshman.

“That’s the ultimate goal,” Maas said. “And hopefully that can lead my team into a good position going to match play.”

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More issues at a pro golf tournament in South Africa — this time it’s another torrential downpour

More rain is in the forecast for Sunday, bringing into question if more golf will be played.

It’s been another difficult week for a professional tournament abroad — this time at the South African Open, held at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.

Last week, the DP World Tour — formally known as the European Tour — was scheduled to kick off its 2021-22 season at the Joburg Open, but experts from the World Health Organization met to assess a COVID-19 variant in South Africa that has been rapidly spreading among young people and had already spawned numerous mutations, according to a story by USA TODAY.

The variant has been dubbed “omicron” and classified a “variant of concern,” the most worrying type by the WHO and one of the first indicators that it is worth considering as an increased threat. The tournament was nearly canceled and then a rough week of weather finally halted it at the midpoint, as Thriston Lawrence was given the trophy after just 36 holes.

This week, an impressive field stuck to commitments and arrived at the SA Open Championship, including PGA Tour players Garrick Higgo, Dylan Frittelli, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Before play began a number of players were forced from the field as Dylan Mostert, Teaghan Gauche, Siyanda Mwandla, and Darren Fichardt all tested positive for COVID.

Then on Saturday, during the third round of play, a dramatic thunderstorm rolled through the area, bringing some intense, wet weather.

Due to the weather, organizers couldn’t fit in the end of the third round, and although the plan is to get players out early Sunday before cranking up the final round, another rainy day is expected for the region.

Justin Harding, who has a pair of victories on the European Tour, is currently in the lead at 11 under while Daniel van Tonder and Oliver Bekker trail by a single stroke.

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Christiaan Bezuidenhout goes back-to-back on European Tour with South African Open title

Christiaan Bezuidenhout: “It’s any South African golfer’s dream to win a national tournament. It’s unreal.”

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Christiaan Bezuidenhout became the first golfer to win back-to-back events on the European Tour in three years on Sunday.

What made it even more special for Bezuidenhout is that his victory came in the 110th South African Open.

“It’s unbelievable to stand here with an Open win,” Bezuidenhout said. “It’s any South African golfer’s dream to win a national tournament. It’s unreal.”

Bezuidenhout is from Delmas, which is about an hour away from the Gary Player Country Club. It’s his third win overall on the Euro Tour in 2020.

Seven days ago, Bezuidenhout’s win in the Dunhill Championship got him back into the top 50 in the world ranking. Now he’s in the top five of the Race to Dubai standings and he will be a contender at next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

SCORES: South African Open

Bezuidenhout, 26, started the final round with a five-shot lead over Jamie Donaldson, who cut the deficit to two but got no closer as Bezuidenhout birdied the first three holes on the back nine to pull away.

“I fought hard today, the front nine things didn’t really go my way and I just dug deep to come out with a win today,” he said. “That was massive (birdieing the 10th, 11th and 12th). I have to say, the second putt on 11 was huge and obviously the putt on 12 was a bonus, I just tried to get it close inside a couple of feet and made it.”

Bezuidenhout closed with a 69 to finish at 18 under. Donaldson was solo second at 13 under. South African Dylan Frittelli was third, seven shots back. Dean Burmester finished solo fourth at 10 under. JC Ritchie was solo fifth at 9 under.

Casey Jarvis of South Africa won low amateur honors.

Justin Rose in 2017 was the last to win consecutive European Tour victories.

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Christiaan Bezuidenhout is on a roll, widens lead at South African Open

Bezuidenhout posted his third consecutive 67 in this week’s South African Open to move to 15 under, widening his lead to five strokes.

If consistency is the key to capturing golf tournaments, Christiaan Bezuidenhout might just keep winning.

After winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship on last week’s Euro/Sunshine swing, Bezuidenhout posted his third consecutive 67 in this week’s South African Open to move to 15 under, widening his lead to five strokes heading into the final day.

If he does turn the trick, Bezuidenhout would be the first player to win consecutive European Tour events since Justin Rose did so in 2017.

Bezuidenhout posted just his second bogey of the week (again on the par-3 third hole), but didn’t drop another shot all day at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City. With other leaders fading a bit, the South African star made a total of six birdies including one on the day’s final hole.

Meanwhile, veteran Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who opened the day tied with Bezuidenhout atop the board, had a rough mid-round stretch, dropping shots on three of four holes from Nos. 8 to 11. Donaldson and Dylan Frittelli are 10 under with 18 holes to play.

South African Open: Leaderboard

The low round of the day went to South African JC Ritchie, who fired a 66 to get to 9 under for the week. Ritchie is tied with Dean Burmester for fourth.

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Watch: Jamie Donaldson misses course record at Gary Player CC by inches, leads South African Open

Donaldson needed to chip in on the final hole to equal Lee Westwood’s mark and nearly did so.

Another day, another 67, another spot at the top of the South African Open leaderboard for Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

And if not for missing a short putt on the final hole of the day, Bezuidenhout — who won last week on the Sunshine/Euro Tour swing at the Alfred Dunhill Championship — would be alone at the top.

Even with the gaffe, the South African is tied with Welshman Jamie Donaldson at 10 under at the tournament’s midpoint. Bezuidenhout played bogey-free golf on Friday, posting three birdies on the front nine and two more on the back.

Meanwhile, Donaldson had 10 birdies on the day and finished a stroke off the course record at Gary Player Country Club. Lee Westwood set the course record in 2011.

Donaldson needed to chip in on the final hole to equal Westwood’s mark and nearly did so.

Meanwhile, Dylan Frittelli is just one shot off the lead after firing his second 68. While Frittelli needed a torrid back in his opening round after posting three bogeys on the front, he took a simpler approach on Friday — adding just one bogey to five birdies.

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Christiaan Bezuidenhout maintains his roll, tied for lead at South African Open

Bezuidenhout is continuing to prove worthy of his top 50 ranking with his early play at this week’s South African Open.

With a victory in last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, Christian Bezuidenhout propelled himself back into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

He’s continuing to prove worthy of that ranking with his early play at this week’s South African Open. Bezuidenhout recorded five birdies through his first nine holes and is one of six players who finished the day at 5 under.

The event, which is facing European Tour competition from the Golf in Dubai Championship this week, is being held at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa, about three hours away from Bezuidenhout’s hometown of Delmas.

Others who finished with a 67 on the day were Jacques Kruyswijk, Dean Burmester, Matthias Schwab, Aron Zemmer and Ruan Korb.

Dylan Frittelli is just one off the pace, tied with Frenchman Matthieu Pavon.

Bezuidenhout, who is the highest-ranked player in the field at this event, has plenty to play for. He’s at No. 41 in the OWGR and No. 50 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. He’s also No. 9 in the Road to Dubai points standings.

His only slip-up on the day came on No. 3 as he missed an eight-foot par putt.

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Branden Grace closes with 62 to win South African Open

Brendan Grace rode a hot putter on Sunday to post a final-round 62 and earn a come-from-behind victory at the South African Open.

Branden Grace rode a hot putter on Sunday to post a final-round 62 and earn a come-from-behind victory at the South African Open.

Third-round leader Louis Oosthuizen, who held a one-shot lead after 54 holes, aced the par-3 eighth hole but it wasn’t enough to hold off Grace, who needed just 22 putts on Sunday and finished 21 under. Oosthuizen finished in second, three shots back. Marcus Armitage was third at 16 under.

This is Grace’s ninth win on the European Tour, and first since the 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge.

“That was remarkable,” he said. “I played flawless golf and I can’t remember the last time the putter was that hot.”

He went on to describe his emotions of winning in his home country.

“This is the one I really wanted. This means so much to any South African, winning on home soil, the guys get so behind you and it’s such an emotional feeling.”

Branden Grace poses for a photograph with the trophy alongside wife Nieke and son Roger after winning the 2020 South African Open. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Add in that Grace was able to celebrate with his family and it made for a special day.

“It’s the first win with the little one here so he’s going to have a photo with the trophy and then it’s a good birthday wish to my Mrs. today, she’s a birthday girl today so it’s a good birthday present.”

Despite seven straight pars to open his round, Oosthuizen had lost the lead. But he gained it right back with a hole-in-one on the eighth hole.

 

Grace’s win secures him a spot in the 2020 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s. Armitage and Jaco Ahlers also earned spots in the final major of the summer.

Amateur Jayden Trey Schaper, 18, chipped in on 18 to finish 13 under, eight shots off the lead.

The European Tour plays the first of three straight events in the Middle East next week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

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Louis Oosthuizen holds 54-hole lead at South African Open

Tournament host and defending champion Louis Oosthuizen is looking to be the first repeat winner since Trevor Immelman 15 years ago.

Louis Oosthuizen shot a 64 on Saturday at the South African Open and will take a one-shot into Sunday’s final round.

Tournament host and defending champion Oosthuizen is 15-under. Fellow South African Trevor Immelman 15 years ago was the last to defend this title.

Marcus Armitage shot a third-round 62 one day after a 72 to charge up the leaderboard. He held a four-shot lead at one point on Saturday before settling into second, a stroke ahead of Jaco Ahlers.

Among the five golfers at 12-under, three of the lead is, is amateur Jayden Trey Schaper, an 18-year-old from South Africa, who shot a 69.

South African Open: Leaderboard

Armitage’s 62 matches the first-round score of Johannes Veerman for .the best round of the week so far. Armitage is looking for his first European Tour. He recently regained his tour card at Q School.

Oosthuizen is seeking his 10th European Tour victory.

“Getting my name on the trophy again would really mean the world to me,” he told europeantour.com. “Defending it and being the host for the week would make it extra special.

“It was good, it was solid. I gave myself lots of opportunities for birdies and the putter was a lot better.”

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Amateur Jayden Schaper one shot off South African Open lead

If Jayden Trey Schaper, an 18-year-old from South Africa, continues the pace he’s on in the South African Open, he has a shot at the title.

The last man who won a European Tour event as an amateur is now the reigning British Open champion. If Jayden Trey Schaper, an 18-year-old from South Africa, continues the pace he’s on in the South African Open, he could have a legitimate shot at joining Shane Lowry in that prestigious group.

After 36 holes at the Firethorn Course at Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg for the European Tour’s South African Open, Schaper is 10 under and one off the lead. He’s part of a five-man tie for second, and all are trailing Tapio Pulkkanen at 11 under.

Leaderboard: South African Open

An amateur hasn’t won this particular event since 1959, even though Lowry was the last amateur to win on this tour, at the Irish Open, in 2009.

Schaper played the first two rounds alongside 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen. On Friday, he made five bogeys on the back nine on his way to a 4-under 67. He had opened with a 65 that included an eagle on the par-4 fifth hole.

“Just special to be up near the top of the leaderboard,” Schaper said. “Playing out there with Louis, one of my idols, and Christiaan (Bezuidenhout) today made it so much more special.”

When asked how he plans to handle his nerves over the weekend, Schaper had a ready answer.

“The way I see is it’s the same golf course. … I’m just going to keep the same as any amateur event that I’ve played,” he said. “Obviously there will be a bit of nerves, but I kind of enjoy them and I kind of feed off of it so I’m just looking forward to starting the weekend.”

Schaper competed in junior and amateur events around the world in 2019, most notably winning the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Sept. 1. He also was a member of the International team at the Junior Presidents Cup last month.

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