Curro Aurora sprint to success at Ernie Els Champs

Aurora protected their overnight advantage to claim a runaway victory at the Ernie Els SA Primary Schools Championship at Middelburg Country Club on Sunday.

The Randburg team stretched a 10 stroke lead to an unchallenged 21 stroke victory over the defending champions St Dunstan’s College at the Mpumalanga course.

Alex van der Merwe, Cole Stevens and Woo-Ju Son put the side ahead with a pooled score of 218 in the first round and a combined for a second round 221 for a winning score of 439.

Van der Merwe carded a second successive 72, while Stevens doubled up on 73s and Son followed an opening 73 with a 76 in the final round.

The team’s fourth member, Kieren van Wyk, carded non-counting rounds of 74 and 84.

Team manager Hardus van der Merwe was very pleased that his charges lifted the fourth edition of annual primary schools championship, hosted by four-time Major winner, Ernie Els.

“I am thrilled with the team’s performance and especially proud of the fact that they accomplished what they set out to achieve this year,” Van der Merwe said.

“The same four players combined for Curro Aurora last year, and they were determined to go one better than their runner-up finish at The Els Club Copperleaf.

“Their commitment and resolve showed in the first round and they carried that purpose to victory into the final round. The players are incredibly proud to have won an event that is sponsored by one of their heroes and they will cherish this victory for a very long time.”

St Dunstan’s College carded rounds of 228 and 232 to finish second on 460, while Outeniqua Primary took third on 475 with rounds of 244 and 231.

Southdowns College claimed fourth on 484 with rounds of 245 and 239 and Paarl Boys Primary combined with rounds of 251 and 244 to finish fifth on 495.

Randpark’s Van der Merwe also claimed the Individual Competition on even-par 144.

He finished two strokes clear of team mate Stevens and three ahead of Outeniqua Primary’s Christo Lamprecht (77 70) and Tiaan Brits from Laerskool Lydenburg, who posted rounds of 75 72.

FINAL TEAMS LEADERBOARD
439 – Curro Aurora 218 – 221
460 – St Dunstans College 228 – 232
475 – Outeniqua Primary 244 – 231
484 – Southdowns College 245 – 239
495 – Paarl Boys Primary School 251 – 244
510 – Willem Postma Primer 241 – 269
511 – Laerskool Lydenburg 258 – 253
513 – Curro Hazeldean 264 – 249
515 – Virginia Preparatory School 256 – 259
526 – Laerskool Rustenberg 265 – 261
530 – St Johns Preparatory 270 – 260
537 – Kathu Primary School 269 – 268
544 – Laerskool Bosveld Primary 273 – 271
544 – Laerskool Saamtrek 270 – 274
550 – Laerskool Staatspresident CR Swart 267 – 283
556 – Laerskool Kruinsig 273 – 283
558 – Bridge House School 285 – 273
564 – Laerskool Tzaneen 280 – 284
567 – Grey College Primary 286 – 281
582 – St Dunstans College 2 289 – 293

FINAL INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD (top 10)
144 – Alex van der Merwe 72 72
146 – Cole Stevens 73 73
147 – C Lamprecht Jnr 77 70; Tiaan Brits 75 72
149 – Woo-Ju Son 73 76; James Vorster Jnr 73 76
150 – Jayden Schaper 75 75
151 – Barend Botha 78 73; Warwick Purchase 73 78
154 – Zander Lombard 81 73

PHOTO – The victorious Curro Aurora team, winners of the 2014 Ernie Els SA Primary Schools Championship; credit Deon Smit, Immanuel Photography.
From left to right: Woo-Ju Son, Alex van der Merwe, team manager Hardus van der Merwe, Kieron van Wyk and Cole Stevens.

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.

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