Waterkloof wins fourth SA High Schools title

26 July 2024 – The youthful team from Waterkloof Hoërskool made it fourth SA High Schools Championship titles in nine starts, edging out the cream of high school golf in South Africa with a hard-fought for victory at Worcester Golf Club in July.

A total of 25 teams teed it up in the Boland to chase glory in this popular tournament and with the three best scores to count per round, there was little room for mistakes.

The schools put on an incredible display of shot-making, but over 36 holes of intense rivalry, Waterkloof’s Cilliers and Roelof Craig, Nelis de Bruin and Liam McKenna combined for a total of five-under-par 427 to come up trumps.

“I am so incredibly proud of these four young men, who really punched well above their weight to lift the trophy for a fourth time,” said the delighted team manager Christine Hare. “They were exemplary ambassadors for our school, both on and off the course, and they really did the school, their parents, golf clubs and golf unions proud.”

Waterkloof Hoërskool previously won the SA High Schools Championship at Glendower, Johannesburg Country Club and Irene Country Club, but this was their first triumph outside Gauteng.

The Waterkloof quartet opened with round of 210 and slept on a four-shot lead over 2022 winners Paul Roos Gymnasium, before powering their way to victory with a gritty final round 217.

“Winning this tournament, for this team, is a dream come true,” Hare said. ““It is tough for these juniors to achieve a balance between school work and golf, but the boys really played for each other. Having each other’s support, gave them all the self believe in their abilities and the grit to keep on pushing when the going gets hard. I always remind them what Jack Nicklaus said: ‘Believe in yourself and always think of the positives.’ And that is what the team did.”

Runners-up Paul Roos Gymnasium ended on one-under-par 431 after posting rounds of 214 and 217 and was the only other team to finish sub-par. Paarl Boys High took third on 433.

Clifton College’s Harry Clayton took the individual honours on six-under-par 138. Clayton fired rounds of 70 and 68 to edge reigning Nomads SA Boys U-17 champion Henru Walters and De Bruin for the title.

“Nelis anchored us with a fantastic 67 in the first round and who finished joint second overall,” Hare said. “Craig and Roelof was super solid, as always, and Liam, who rallied after making 11 on the fifth hole on day one, fought back brilliantly to finish with a 73. The team had a fantastic rapport and showed tremendous fighting spirit, especially on the final day when conditions were really tough.

“On behalf of all the teams, I would like to thank GolfRSA for a well-organised tournament and commend Worcester Golf Club for a gem of a golf course. Thank you to Greg de Doncker and Laetitia Higgs who ran a really professional event and the greenstaff who presented us with a course in a superb conditioning. Congratulations to all the teams who participated. The field this year was particularly strong, and we really had to work for the win.”

TEAM RESULTS – TOP 10
427 Hoërskool Waterkloof 210 217
431 Paul Roos Gymnasium 214 217
433 Paarl Boys High 216 217
436 Hoërskool Durbanville 216 220
438 Glenwood House 220 218
445 Balderstone Sports Institute 227 218; St Stithians Boys College 218 227
446 Bramble Hill 215 231
447 Clifton College 232 215
454 Selborne College 229 225

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – TOP 10
138 Harry Clayton 70 68
139 Henru Walters 68 71; Nelis De Bruin 67 72
142 Roelof Craig 70 72; Jason Ressell 67 75
143 Vuyisani Makama 75 68; Nicolas van der Vyver 71 72; Dewan de Bruin 70 73
144 Andries van der Vyver 72 72; Ryan Melville 71 73