Jayden Schaper, South Africa’s dominant junior, is riding the crest of a wave with five wins in his last six junior events, writes BRENDAN BARRATT in Compleat Golfer.
He may be just 16 years old, but the country’s top junior golfer seems to have his future pretty well planned.It might be what one should expect from a kid who started playing golf the moment he could walk and who already has his own website, but you can’t help buying into the dream when Jayden Schaper talks about his lofty ambitions.
‘I’ve worked hard with my dad to try to map out my career,’ he says. ‘After I finish school I will go to one of the top-division universities in the US and from there I will work my way on to the PGA Tour. I’ve been exploring scholarship options but obviously it’s too early for colleges to make any formal approaches.’
Given his recent run of success, there should be no shortage of suitors once Schaper’s name finds its way on to
the US colleges’ radar. The Ebotse golfer recently added the U17 and U19 national titles to his CV to complete what some have dubbed the ‘Nomads Slam’ – winning all four national age-group titles.
Schaper also claimed the Dimension Data Junior Open and the Tshwane Junior Open to cap a spell where he tasted victory in five out of the six junior events he played in. To cap it off, Schaper has been a regular fixture in the SA Junior team, having represented his country at events in Italy, Japan and Zimbabwe.
‘The first time I received my junior colours was in Italy last year,’ he says.
‘It was exciting to compare myself to all the other junior players, including some of the best players in the world. I played solid and finished tie-ninth, which gave me a lot of confidence and showed me I could compete with the best.
‘But I also realised that I couldn’t afford to become complacent – that you are never good enough to be able to stop working hard. I looked at the other players and thought to myself, “I need to be putting in more effort than all of them.”’
Schaper forms part of a crop of very talented youngsters who are coming through the South African junior golf system. The likes of Garrick Higgo, Luca Filippi, Wilco Nienaber and reigning SA Amateur champion Christo Lamprecht Jnr – all of whom, like Schaper, are part of Golf RSA’s National Squad – have the makings of what could turn out to be a golden generation for South African golf.
‘We all get along really well,’ says Schaper. ‘We have travelled together overseas and we play against each other a lot. There’s no doubt tougher competition drives you to work harder and play better, so I’m grateful for it.’
Yet despite the stiff competition, the youngster has opened up a yawning gap on his nearest rivals when it comes to the junior rankings.
‘I’ve been working hard with my coach, Grant Veenstra,’ Schaper says. ‘I’ve always been solid from tee to green, so I just needed to tidy up around the greens – particularly with my putting.
‘I’ve been putting well, and I’ve got to the point where I know that if I putt well I will have a good tournament.’
The confidence his good form has brought has allowed Schaper a degree of swagger when he tees it up at junior events.
‘I once watched a video about Jason Day where he spoke about arriving at a tournament as a junior and the other players knowing they were playing for second place,’ he says. ‘That’s where I want to be; to have that level of confidence and motivation.’
The next step in the progression of the Ekurhuleni golfer must be to convert his junior form into good results on the open amateur circuit, where he has played relatively few events and is therefore ranked only 32nd.
But with an already-packed schedule of local and international tournaments and travel for the youngster, he will need to carefully juggle school and golf to make sure he gets the best out of both. Schaper, it seems, is taking it in his stride.
‘I’ve been playing tournament golf since I was six years old, when I was playing SA Kids Golf,’ he says, ‘so I’m
used to it. And I get such great support from my mom and dad.
‘I attend the Home Zone Education Centre in Ebotse, which has been accommodating. Because I live so close to the estate, it makes it easier to get my school work done because there is less travelling and I can catch up on my school work while I’m travelling.’
It may still be early days, but it is clear that Schaper’s golfing career is neatly following the script he and his parents have written. The next few chapters will be interesting, but the young man is determined to follow his mantra: believe in what you want to achieve. Expect a few more believers soon.
SA Junior Ranking (U18)
1. Jayden Schaper
2. Christo Lamprecht Jnr
3. Wilco Nienaber
4. Luke Mayo
5. Garrick Higgo
6. Luca Filippi
7. Tyron Davidowitz
8. Werner Deyzel
9. Martin Vorster
10. Keegan McLachlan
*Editors note: Since this article was written, Schaper qualified for and played in the Junior Presidents Cup
– This article first appeared in the September issue of Compleat Golfer
