Schaper hits front at Modderfontein

Reigning Nomads SA Boys U-15 champion Jayden Schaper fired an opening five-under-par 67 to lay down a marker for his second national junior victory this season in the Nomads National Order of Merit at Modderfontein Golf Club on Monday.

The 15-year-old Ebotse junior showed a solid return to form with a tie for sixth finish in the Nomads SA Boys U-17 Championship on Friday.

Schaper offset a trio of bogeys with eight birdies to open up a two shot lead, but he will have to keep his foot on the pedal to fend off Wilco Nienaber, who shares second with Brendan Porter from Central Gauteng.

Nienaber cruised to a four stroke victory at Kingswood on Friday and was in great form, dropping just two shots as he navigated his way to a first round 69.

Gauteng’s Cole Stevens – the only other player to break par – carded a 71 to finish alone in fourth.

Coming off a third place finish in George, KwaZulu-Natal’s Chris Woollam grabbed a share of fifth on one over with Freddie Spencer from Western Province and fellow Steenberg junior Dan Copeman.

Ekurhuleni pair Dylan Mostert and Yurav Premlall joined Christiaan Burke from North West, Southern Cape’s Alex van Wyk, Deon Germishuys from Western Province and Gauteng North’s Keegan Mclachlan in the bus at two over.

NOoM MODDERFONTEIN FIRST ROUND SCORES (TOP 20):
67 Jayden Schaper
69 Wilco Nienaber; Brendan Porter
71 Cole Stevens
73 Freddie Spencer; Dan Copeman; Chris Woollam
74 Dylan Mostert; Christiaan Burke; Alex van Wyk; Deon Germishuys; Keegan Mclachlan; Yurav Premlall
75 Sentanio Minnie
76 Reece Haikney; Dehan Joubert; Clifford Thompson; Vaughn van Deventer; Jason Shaun Hale; Luke Brown; Tristan Malan; Slade Pickering

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