Bester sets the pace at Pecanwood

HARTEBEESPOORTDAM, 29 August 2019 – Benoni junior Justin Bester will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Nomads North and South Junior Championship on Friday.

The Benoni Country Club golfer edged out early leaders Marcus Taylor from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal’s Kyle Kistensamy for the first round honours with an opening four-under-par 68 in the morning session at Pecanwood Golf & Country Club.

The 17-year-old carded a second round 75 to hold on to pole position on one-under 143.

Kistensamy followed his opening 69 with a 75 to stay within striking distance and he shares second with Dean Wilken from Gauteng North, who opened with a 76 but shot into contention with a round of 68 in the afternoon.

Zandre Labuschagne (75, 69) from Gauteng North tied for fourth with Friends of Engelberg Challenge winner Nikhil Rama, coming from a runner-up finish in the KwaZulu-Natal Amateur Championship. Rama carded rounds of 75 and 70 to round out the top five with Labuschagne on one-over 145.

“We had lovely conditions in the morning, but the guys battled with the six holes for the hour that they had to contend with a one and a half club wind in the afternoon,” said tournament director David Younge from GolfRSA.

“The greens dried out pretty quick and were very firm and the juniors couldn’t attack the pins. The quality of golf today was really outstanding, though. We have a nice tight leaderboard with nine players within four shots of Bester’s lead and we should see a great tussle for the title in the final round on Friday.”

John William Blomerus and Ryan van Velzen from Ekurhuleni, Samual Mckenzie from Gauteng and local favourite Luc Gavagnin are just three off the pace, while Southern Cape’s James Murray and Jaco Anderson from North West will start the final round in a tie for 10th on three-over.

Christian Lewis from Gauteng North might be rueing the 10 he made on the par five seventh, but he still had loads to smile about after recording his first-ever hole-in-one. The Silver Lakes junior holed out from 123 metres with a knock-out wedge at the par three third in the second round.

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Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA.