Spencer revels in season-opener success

5 January 2018 – Freddie Spencer from Western Province staved off some of South Africa’s top junior talent to score a memorable first national victory in the Nomads National Order of Merit Inland event at Benoni Country Club on Friday.

Spencer clinched the season-opening tournament at Benoni Country Club with a winning score of two-under-par 214 after a final round 70.

Spencer opened his season with rounds of 74 and 70 and he began the final round three off the pace from overnight leader and reigning Sanlam SA Amateur champion Christo Lamprecht.

A trio of birdies at the second, eighth and ninth holes moved him to three under, but he surrendered shots at 12 and 13. A cool head prevailed, though, and Spencer sunk a seven-footer at the final hole to beat South Africa’s number one ranked junior Jayden Schaper from Ekurhuleni and Brandon Greere from Mpumalanga by two strokes.

“The leaderboard was incredibly tight all day and victory could have gone to anyone, because the lead changed a lot,” Spencer said.

“Last year I finished second in the Nomads National Order of Merit at Modderfontein and challenged in the Lion of Africa at Clovelly and these experiences helped me a lot. I’m comfortable being in front and under pressure.

“I just aimed to get myself in contention. I battled with the putter over all three rounds, but a couple of putts dropped for me early on and I shared the lead after nine holes. I thought I’d blown it when I dropped 12 and 13, though.”

When Spencer reached the final hole, he was tied for the lead with Lamprecht at one-under.

“I had some chances down the back nine, but the putts stayed out, so this was do-or-die,” he said. “I needed a birdie to make a play-off, so I avoided the water down the left and hit it straight down the middle.

“I hit a rescue just down the left, which left me with 50 metres to the pin. I pitched it on the green and the ball finished about seven feet below the hole. And that putt dropped.”

When Lamprecht walked off the 18th with a double bogey, the victory was Spencer’s to savour.

“You feel for Christo, but he is a great player and he will bounce back,” said Spencer. “I’m really, really stoked about this win. I gained a lot of experience during the four months I spent at the Gary Gilchrist Academy in Orlando at the end of 2016 and this last year that learning curve continued. It’s great to start the season on such a high note.”

Greere closed with 71 and Schaper posted 72 to tie for second on even-par 216.

Lamprecht settled for a share of fourth at one-over with Luke Mayo from KwaZulu-Natal after a disappointing 76, while Deon Germishuys from Western Province, Southern Cape’s Jordan Duminy and Ekurhuleni duo Ryan van Velzen and Yurav Premlall closed out the top 10 at two over.

Final Result (top 20)
214 Freddie Spencer 74 70 70
216 Brandon Geere 72 73 71; Jayden Schaper 72 72 72
217 Luke Mayo 73 71 73; Christo Lamprecht Jnr 69 72 76
218 Deon Germishuys 74 75 69; Jordan Duminy 73 73 72; Ryan van Velzen 71 73 74; Yurav Premlall 70 73 75
219 Casey Jarvis 77 73 69; Nikhil Gopal 69 74 76
221 Werner Deyzel 76 69 76; Andre van Dyk 73 76 72; Reece Haikney 70 75 76
222 Alexander Pienaar 75 75 72
223 Warwick Purchase 75 71 77; Christiaan Burke 74 73 76; Angus Klintworth 72 79 72; Cole Stevens 71 74 78
224 Simon du Plooy 75 72 77

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA, a SAGA and WGSA Not-For-Profit company.