Top five finish for Harvey in New Zealand
Reigning South African Amateur Stroke Play champion Jared Harvey produced a sterling final round to surge to claim a share of fifth in the final round of the United Fisheries Shirley Open in New Zealand.
The KwaZulu-Natal golfer closed with back-to-back birdies for a four-under-par 68 at Christchurch Golf Club to finish 10 shots behind Wellington professional Nick Gillespie, whose five under 67 saw him defeat fellow professional Richard Lee by eight shots.
Harvey’s four-under-par 284 left him just one stroke shy of 20-year-old Vaughan McCall from Gore, who claimed the leading amateur honours.
Starting from a share of 20th, Harvey erased an early drop at the par-four second with a birdie at the eighth to turn in 36. The Mount Edgecombe golfer and raced home in a flawless performance with four birdies at 11th, 13th and the pair at the closing holes.
“Jared has been the picture of consistency, both here and during the Four Nations Cup,” said South African Golf Association’s Executive Director Bruce Younge.
“Even when he was battling flu at The Hills, his resilience and tenacity has been amazing and I’m not surprised that he managed to sneak through the field to post a top five finish.”
Ruan de Smidt signed of with a 75, bookended by bogeys, for a share of 19th on 287 while Brandon Stone carded a 73 to tie for 25th on 291.
The youngest member of the South African contingent in New Zealand, Haydn Porteous, finally found some form on the green, surrendering just one shot on his way to a two-under-par 70. The 17-year-old tied for 36th on 294.
“It was also very gratifying to see that Haydn’s never-say-die attitude finally paid off today,” said Younge.
“Even though his putting is still on shaky ground, his tenacity saw him produce a well appointed 70.
“Although Brandon has also been pretty consistent it has been an up and down battle for Ruan and Haydn.
“But results aside, the experience gained over the last two weeks in the team’s competition and this week, playing with top professionals and amateurs, will be invaluable for all four players in their development as golfers.”
FINAL RESULT
Amateurs indicated with (a)
274 Nick Gillespie NZ 68 71 68 67
282 Richard Lee NZ 69 68 70 75
283 Vaughan McCall (a) NZ 76 66 71 70, Mahal Pearce NZ 69 70 69 75
284 Jared Harvey (a) RSA 73 70 73 68, Jordan Bakermans (a) NZ 75 71 70 68, Alex Tait NZ 70 73 70 71, Pieter Zwart NZ 70 71 71 72
285 Jordan Dasler NZ 71 70 75 69, Anthony Doyle NZ 71 74 69 71, Andrew Henare NZ 72 70 71 72
286 Blair Riordan (a) NZ 74 72 73 67, Keelan Kilpatrick (a) NZ 77 70 69 70, Tyler Hodge (a) NZ 74 67 74 71, Dominic Barson NZ 76 68 71 71, Mathew Perry (a) NZ 72 72 70 72, Peter Spearman Burn NZ 72 71 69 74, Scott Hill NZ 68 67 75 76
287 Ruan De Smidt (a) RSA 75 66 71 75, Mathew Holten NZ 73 75 66 73
288 Mark Boe NZ 74 71 70 73, Jason McIntosh NZ 71 72 71 74
289 Jim Cusdin NZ 71 69 72 77
290 Dean Sipson NZ 73 74 71 72
291 Brandon Stone (a) RSA 74 73 71 73
294 Haydn Porteous (a) RSA 75 72 77 70