Meyers claims play-off win in North West Open
David Meyers from Dainfern defeated Lichtenburg’s Danie van Niekerk in a play-off to claim his second provincial title in the North West Open Championship at Rustenburg Golf Club on Sunday.
The reigning Mpumalanga Open champion lagged three strokes off the pace from 36-hole leader Malcolm Mitchell from KwaZulu-Natal going into the final day, while Van Niekerk started the third round a further stroke behind.
Meyers carded successive rounds of 70s to set the clubhouse target at 10-under-par 278, but the North West amateur followed a third round 73 with a superb 66 in the final round to join the Gauteng amateur in the lead at the end of regulation play.
In the ensuing sudden-death play-off, the pair set off down the 336 meter, par-four first.
Both players split the fairway and had about 100 meters to the pin.
Van Niekerk hit his approach to 20 foot and Meyers finished five feet closer to the flag. The Lichtenburg golfer lagged his first putt short, but Meyers boxed his for the win.
The victory lifted Meyers to 11th in the Open Amateur rankings.
“I really happy with the result, because I set myself a few goals this season,” the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation player said.
“I hope to break into the top 10 in the Open Amateur rankings this year, and hopefully put myself in line to earn national colours.
“It’s difficult to play in all the events on the schedule, because I am in my matric year at Dainfern College. In fact, exams are coming up and I won’t be able to compete for the next five or six weeks. This victory goes a long way in bringing me a little closer to achieving my goals.”
Meanwhile Ekurhuleni’s Kyle McClatchie also extended his top 10 run on the Open Amateur circuit with a share of third alongside Mitchell.
Following a tie for third in the Gauteng North Stroke Play in January, McClatchie claimed a share of sixth in the Free State Open the following month and finished joint fifth in the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship stroke play qualifier in early March.
The 17-year-old closed with a five-under-par 67 to finish on nine under, while Mitchell signed off with a 75.
Gauteng’s Rupert Kaminski also enjoyed a good run in Rustenburg.
The South African Stroke Play Championship runner-up finished in fifth on seven under with rounds of 75, 69, 69 and 68.
TOP 10 RESULTS
278 David Meyers 74 64 70 70 (play-off win at first extra hole)
278 Danie van Niekerk 68 71 73 66
279 Kyle McClatchie 68 72 72 67; Malcolm Mitchell 70 65 69 75
281 Rupert Kaminski 75 69 69 68
283 Darin de Smidt 73 69 71 70; Keegan de Lange 71 70 73 69
285 Phillip Geerts 69 71 70 75; Aubrey Beckley 70 70 74 71
286 Ruan Conradie 71 71 74 70
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.