Loubser closes out Nomads North vs South victory

Sentanio Minnie missed an opportunity to force the Nomads North vs South Inland into overtime when he double-bogeyed the 18th hole at Bloemfontein Golf Club and handed Herman Loubser a two stroke victory on Thursday.

The Boland golfer signed for a final round 69 to triumph on 11-under-par 205, while Ekurhuleni’s Minnie took sole second after a closing 74.

Southern Cape’s Franklin Manchest carded a 73 to finish in third on three under 213, one stroke ahead of Luke Mayo from KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng North’s Keegan McClachlan.

Minnie followed an opening 66 with a flawless 67 and carried a three stroke lead into the final round, but Loubser applied pressure from the get-go.

Both players opened with birdies and bogeyed the second hole before Loubser traded a birdie for a bogey at the third and fourth holes.

The 16-year-old Theewaterskloof golfer signalled his intentions with a birdie at the 10th to go 10 under and the gap was just a single stroke after Sentanio bogeyed the same hole.

Loubser drew level with Minnie with another gain at the 13th, but the Ekurhuleni player pulled ahead again when he boxed a birdie putt at the 14th.

“Sentanio played some great golf and kept ahead most of the way,” Loubser said. “It was only when he bogeyed the 16th that we finally drew level again.

“I honestly thought we were heading for a play-off after we both birdied the 17th and we were heading down the par-five 18th. I was playing ahead of him and was a little frustrated after I missed a 10-footer for birdie.

“I figured he would probably win it with a birdie, or we would have a play-off. His second finished short of the green. He had to chip into the green, but left it short and then three-putted for double bogey.

“I don’t think anyone likes to win this way, but for me it’s all about form and I’m really happy with my performance over the three rounds.

“My game is coming really nicely and this is exactly the kind of form I wanted before the Nomads SA Boys U-19 Championship next week. This victory puts a seal on my preparation for Polokwane.”

FINAL RESULT – TOP 10
205 Herman Loubser 69 67 69
207 Sentanio Minnie 66 67 74
212 Franklin Manchest 67 72 73
213 Luke Mayo 69 74 70; Keegan Mclachlan 69 74 70
214 Gregory Mckay 72 74 68; Otto van Buynder 67 74 73
215 Caylum Boon 73 73 69; Clifford Thompson 69 78 68
217 Daniel Cronje 74 72 71

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

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