Relentless Ekurhuleni takes Nomads U-13 Champs
Ekurhuleni’s finest young prospects powered their way to a successful title defence in the Nomads South African U-13 Championship at Royal Durban Golf Club on Wednesday.
The defending champions opened with 382 for an 18 stroke lead, stretched their advantage to 32 strokes with a second round 373 and went the distance with a final round 374 to claim a roaring 43 stroke victory on 1129.
Casey Jarvis fired a final round 71 to give Ekurhuleni a running start and his superb effort was brilliantly supported by Zamokuhle Nxasana (75), Yurav Premlall (76) and rookies John-William Blomerus (78) and Kiera Floyd (80).
“I’m really proud that I could help our team to defend the title,” Jarvis said.
“Our manager, uncle Jack (Turton), gave us a lot of encouragement and we really committed to winning the title again.
“We all had some bad holes, but no-one gave up. We all did our bit to win and it feels great to take the trophy home again.”
Jarvis, who won the 10-11 age category in the Optimist International Championships in the United States in July, also ensured a double celebration for the defending champions.
Louis 57 Academy player Jordan Duminy mixed nine birdies with four bogeys for a blistering five under 67 to lead in the Individual Competition, but it was too little, too late for the Southern Cape stand-out.
The 12-year-old Jarvis made a brilliant up-and-down at 18 for birdie to claim a one stroke victory on one-over-par 217, forcing Duminy to wear the bridesmaid tag for a second successive year.
Last year, Duminy tied Liam van Deventer at the end of regulation play, but the Ekurhuleni junior clinched the title in the ensuing sudden death play-off.
Duminy’s brilliance, however, motivated the rest of the team, who rallied to lift Southern Cape to a second place finish on 1172 in the Team Competition.
Jan Human from the South African Golf Development Board and CJ van Wyk returned 74’s while Franco Gericke signed for an 80 and Jaco Pienaar registered an 81.
Human from Albertinia Golf Club also tied for third in the Individual Competition with Ekurhuleni’s Zamokuhle Nxasana. The pair finished on six over 222.
Click HERE for the final Team Results
Click HERE for the final Individual Results
PHOTO – Ekurhuleni successfully defended their Nomads SA Under-13 Championship title at Royal Durban Golf Club; credit Stella Nova Studio.
LTR back – Yurav Premlall, JW Blomerus, manager Jack Turton, Casey Jarvis and Kiera Floyd
LTR Front – Zamokuhle Nxasana and Christopher Bagnall
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.