Steyn clinches ProShop Northern Amateur Stroke Play
Modderfontein’s Marco Steyn drained an eagle putt at the 18th hole of the East Course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington to seal a one-stroke victory in the ProShop Northern Amateur Stroke Play Championship on Monday.
The maiden win on the Open Amateur circuit puts Steyn eighth on the 2014 first-time winner’s list this season, following similar triumphs from NJ Arnoldi, Keegan de Lange, Jason Smith, Hendrikus Stoop, James du Preez, Luke Trocado and Gregory Royston.
Steyn’s first win this season follows closely on a runner-up finish at the Coastal Nomads National Order of Merit tournament at St Francis Links last month.
The Tuksgolf Club and Academies student lagged six strokes off the pace at 36-hole mark, with Royston in the driver’s seat at six-under-par 138 after rounds of 71 and 67.
However, a flawless seven-under-par 65 left the 17-year-old in a challenging position heading into the final round at the home of the Sunshine Tour’s Joburg Open.
Steyn kept up the pressure with five birdies on the front nine and reduced the damage of a lone bogey at the 10th with the eagle finish to edge out overnight leader Royston by one shot for victory on 13-under-par 275.
Border Stroke Play Championship winner Royston mirrored Steyn’s birdies at the first, third, sixth, eighth and ninth, and traded a bogey at the 14th for birdie at the 15th for a final round 67.
RESULT – TOP 10
275 Marco Steyn 75 69 65 66
276 Gregory Royston 71 67 71 67
282 Basil Wright 71 69 74 68
284 Andre Nel 75 73 66 70; Jason Froneman 74 70 68 72; Ludovic Bax 73 67 70 74; Stefan Cronje 71 72 71 70; Paul Boshoff 70 73 70 71
285 Burger Heckroodt 72 76 70 67; Christoff Els 72 69 72 72
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.