Steyn claims hat-trick with Nomads Champs victory

Modderfontein junior Marco Steyn launched another come-from-behind assault to chase down his third victory of the season at the Nomads National Order of Merit Championship at Silver Lakes Golf Estate on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Steyn overhauled Noel Anderson and Keelan van Wyk to claim the North and South Championship by one stroke at Kempton Park Country Club.

Just three days later, the 16-year-old Central Gauteng golfer fired a four-under-par 68 to reel in overnight leader Keegan de Lange and claim a two stroke victory on one under 143.

Meanwhile De Lange closed with an even-par 72 to finish in second on 145.

The reigning Gauteng North Stroke Play champion finished three strokes ahead of Central Gauteng stable-mate Dean Martin and Herman Loubser from Boland. Martin carded a one under 71 and Loubser, the reigning Nomads SA Boys U-15 champion, closed with a 74.

Steyn opened with a three over 75 to finish one behind KwaZulu-Natal’s Luke Mayo and Herman Loubser of Boland and two strokes off the pace from De Lange.

However, Steyn has been in threatening form since he reached the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship semi-final.

The reigning ProShop Northern Amateur champion overturned early bogeys at the first and third holes with a string of three birdies from the fifth.

He turned in one under and interrupted a stretch of pars to the final hole with birdies at the 11th, 14th and 16th to post the lowest round of the day, and the tournament.

“It was a lot colder today than in the first round, but it really helped that we played off the same tees and that they kept the pins the same,” the TuksSport High learner said.

“It was really tough to focus early on in the freezing conditions, but once we got through the turn, it was a lot better. I drove the ball well, but I was able to get it a lot closer to the pins today. The real difference between the first and second round, though, was that the putts dropped today.”

Steyn was thrilled with his hat-trick and credited a strong support base for his success.

“My family and friends are very supportive and the team at TuksSport is fantastic,” he said.

“I’ve been with my coach, Llewellyn von Leeuwen, since I was four years old and I owe him a huge thank you. Theo Bezuidenhout and Gavin Groves, our sport phycologist and our biokineticist, have also been a huge support for me this season.”

Steyn intends to enjoy the last week of the school holiday and then start working on getting his game into top shape for the Louis Oosthuizen SA Junior Club Championships and his premier SA Inter-Provincial debut in September.

FINAL RESULT (top 10)
143 – Marco Steyn 75 68
145 – Keegan de Lange 73 72
148 – Dean Martin 77 71; Herman Loubser 74 74
149 – Altin van der Merwe 76 73
150 – Dylan Naidoo 77 73; Dylon Jacobs 76 74; Anuerin Gounden 75 75
151 – Albert Venter 80 71; Cameron Moralee 75 76; Luke Mayo 74 77

Released on behalf of the South African Golf Association.

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