Jacques Kruyswijk, last South African standing
PARYS (3 March 2011) – Limpopo’s Jacques Kruyswijk is the last South African standing after the Scots dominated the quarter-finals at the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship this morning.
Kruyswijk downed Stephen Pienaar 4 and 2 to set up a semi-final meeting with Scotland’s Paul Shields, who knocked out Pretoria’s Aubrey Barnard at the 22nd hole.
In the other semi-final, Scotland’s Michael Stewart downed Soweto player Muzi Nethunzwi 3 and 2.
The Scottish number one will face his countryman Jordan Findlay, who ousted Limpopo’s CJ du Plessis 2-up.
Kruyswijk and Barnard were all sdowned Stephen Pienaar 4 and 2 in the quarter-finals to set up a semi-final meeting with Scotland’s Paul Shields this afternoon.
Shields knocked out Aubrey Barnard from Pretoria on the 22nd hole.
In the other semi-final, Scotland’s number one Michael Stewart beat Soweto player Muzi Nethunzwi 3 and 2 and will face his countryman Jordan Findlay, who won the last four holes in his match against Limpopo’s CJ du Plessis to take the match 2-up.
Kruyswijk and Barnard were all square after 10, but Kruyswijk got the upper hand when he birdied the 11th and Barnard dropped successive shots at 12 and 13. Pienaar birdied the 14th to get one back but Kruyswijk’s putter did the job and he birdied 15 and 16 to seal the win.
“I was striking the ball well, but when got the putter rolling on the back nine, the match turned in my favour,” said the 18-year-old Nylstroom player.
Shields took the lead with a birdie at the first and looked set to win at two-up through 15, but Barnard fought back with birdies at 16 and 18 to force the match into extra holes.
“I had two chances to win, but I missed a 10-footer at the 19th and a five-footer at the 20th;” said Shields. Both players birdied the par-four third. The Scot knocked it on the green at the fourth and Barnard left it short, leaving Shields with two putts to tie up the win.
“It was a great match and I had a lot of fun out there,” said Shields. “We have three Scots in the semi-final. We had hoped to get to an all Scottish final, so I guess it’s up to me to get rid of Jacques.”
Nethunzwi got the first point in his match against Stewart, but the Scottish number one proved just too experienced for the Soweto youth.
The Scot was 2-up through the turn and scored successive birdies at the 11th and 12th. Nethunzwi kept pace but couldn’t find another birdie to stop the steady Scot.
The lead between Du Plessis and Findlay changed hands after the turn, with Du Plessis winning 2-up after 12. But the Scottish player won the last four holes to win 2-up.
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