Van der Merwe soars with eagles in Germany
Western Province’s Altin van der Merwe produced a pair of eagles to claim a runner-up finish in the final round of the Global Junior Golf Tour’s RB German Junior on Thursday.
The 18-year-old Bellville golfer opened with a dismal 77 at Golfclub Heidelberg, but rocketed to third overall with a solid two under 70 in round two.
Van der Merwe traded three bogeys for three birdies in the final round and wiped out a double bogey at the seventh with his first eagle at the par-five eighth.
He holed out for his second eagle at the par-four 14th to sign off with a 70 to finish two strokes behind winner Marcus Helligkilde from Denmark.
The Dane took the 36 hole lead with rounds of 73 and 72 and closed with a 70 to triumph on one-under-par 215.
Van der Merwe earned his berth in the invitation-only event after he defeated Finland’s Ilari Saulo by two strokes to claim the Boys Division in the Curro South Africa Juniors International at his home course in March.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.