Roux goes wire-to-wire in SA Mid-Amateur Stroke Play
Gerlou Roux fired a closing 72 to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the South African Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship on Friday.
The country’s top ranked mid-amateur was in imperious form over four days at Victoria Country Club in KwaZulu-Natal, having opened with a five-under-par 66 en route to an impressive seven-under-par 277 total and a four stroke victory over fellow Western Province player Elton James.
The winning display – his fifth on the mid-amateur circuit this season – left the 38-year-old Roux extremely satisfied.
“I had the lead from day one and kept it, but that was quite a lot of pressure and it feels really good that I was able to pull it through,” Roux said.
“I just felt my game was there, but more importantly, I had to sleep on the lead for three nights and needed a lot of patience out there to keep the focus going.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to know that I have excelled on both the Open Amateur and Mid-Amateur circuits. I wasn’t just a one-day-wonder, and this victory gives me a lot of confidence.”
Former KwaZulu-Natal golfer James had to settle for second place at the end of 72 holes having made much of the early running.
He enjoyed a pair of birdies on either side of a bogey at the par-four fifth and led by four strokes after a birdie at the 10th, however the Westlake golfer’s challenge imploded with a triple bogey at the par-five 11th and a double at the par-four 12th.
Although dropped shots at 11 and 13, the Bellville golfer steadied the ship with three successive pars and back-to-back birdies at the closing holes.
James suffered a run of three bogeys from the 13th, but parred the last three holes for a 75.
Roux cemented his spot at the top of the Mid-Amateur rankings, but hopes he has done enough to earn double national colours this season.
“One of my goals this year was to become the first player to wear the green and gold on Open Amateur and Mid-Amateur level,” he said. “I represented South Africa at the Leopard Trophy and the Southern Cross Invitational. Hopefully this victory will be good enough to get me in the Mid-Amateur team for France later this year.”
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.