Curro Aurora celebrated a successful title defence in the eighth South African High School Championship with a wire-to-wire victory at Devonvale on Friday.
The 2017 champions carried a slender one shot lead into the final round over Affies after setting the first round target at five-under-par 211.
Carl Mwale, Cole Stevens and Kieron van Wyk kept Curro Aurora at the top of the pile with a total of five-over 221. Curro Aurora beat Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Pretoria by five shots on a winning total of 432.
Christiaan Maas, Dean Sanders and Francois van der Walt from Affies combined for 225, while a final round 220 from Daniel Cronje, Francois Cilliers and Tyran Snyders earned local favourites Paarl Boys High third place on 439.
Mwale from Eagle Canyon anchored Curro Aurora with an opening 69 and once again led the charge in the final round with an even-par 72.
Fellow South African Golf Development Board members Stevens from Parkview and Ruimsig’s Van Wyk contributed respective rounds of 73 and 76 and the fourth member of the team, Cara Ford from Randpark, posted a non-counting 84.
‘We are incredibly proud of the team’s achievement,’ said Curro Aurora manager Adrian Ferreira.
‘Conditions were certainly tougher than in the first round. The course set up was more difficult and the wind made it really hard to break par. Carl, Cole and Kieron, who played on last year’s winning team, were determined to defend the title and bring the trophy back to Curro Aurora. They dug really deep in the final round and their achievement speaks to their commitment to the team. Throughout the tournament they played for, and fed off each other.
‘We would like to thank our executive head JC Engelbrecht and our headmaster Dr Richard Kieck for their unwavering support of the golf programme at Curro Aurora. We are also greatly indebted to Central Gauteng Golf Union, in particular Andy Truluck, and to our right-hand man, Hardus van der Merwe, for their continued support.
‘A special word of thanks to Eden Thompson and GolfRSA for giving our young golfers the chance to compete in an event of this magnitude. The talent on show this week was really impressive and it was fantastic to see spirit of the sportsmanship among our juniors.
‘Congratulations to all the teams who travelled to Boland on a fantastic championship and well done to Affies and Paarl Boys High on finishing in the medals. Hats off to Devonvale for hosting us and giving us an immaculate course to compete on this week.
‘Finally, the team and I wish to congratulate Wilco Nienaber, who won the Individual Competition for a second successive year. Wilco is a fantastic ambassador for the sport and leads by example. He is a wonderful inspiration for our juniors, both in his work ethic and his conduct.’
Nienaber, from Grey College, fired rounds of 64 and 71 to triumph on nine-under-par 135.
Maas finished second on 140, Mwale third on 141 and Cronje fourth on 142. Stevens and Jean Pierre van der Watt from Glenwood House Independent School completed the top five on 143.
Team result:
(Best 3 scores of 4 to count)
432 Curro Aurora 211 Carl Mwale 69 Cole Stevens 70 Kieron van Wyk 72; 221 Carl Mwale 72 Cole Stevens 73 Kieron van Wyk 76
437 Die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Pretoria 212 Christiaan Maas 69 Francois van der Walt 70 Dean Sanders 73; 225 Christiaan Maas 71 Dean Sanders 77 Francois van der Walt 77
439 Paarl Boys High 219 Daniel Cronje 71 Tyran Snyders 74 Francois Cilliers 74; 220 Daniel Cronje 71 Francois Cilliers 73 Tyran Snyders 76
441 Glenwood House Independent School 220 Jean Pierre van der Watt 71 Damian Osner 72 Liam Ross 77; 221 Jean Pierre van der Watt 72 James Murray 72 Damian Osner 77
442 Grey College Secondary 217 Wilco Nienaber 64 Neil Delport 74 Christiaan Heyman 79; 225 Wilco Nienaber 71 Christiaan Heyman 76 Neil Delport 78
442 The Golf School of Excellence 215 Brendan Porter 70 Titouan Berny 72 Benji Stein 73; 227 Benji Stein 74 Titouan Berny 76 Brendan Porter 77
448 De Villiers Graaf High School 225 Angelo Keffers 74 Jurie Johannes Mostert 75 Aidon Willemse 76; 223 Aidon Willemse 73 Carlos Losper 74 Angelo Keffers 76
449 Rundle College 221 Nicola Gerhardsen 70 Mike Saxer 74 Calvin Maia 77; 228 Calvin Maia 70 Mike Saxer 78 Nicola Gerhardsen 80
458 Grey High School 225 Kyle Ward 70 Robert Shearer 77 Reece Coleman 78; 233 Lumkile Mantshiyo 76 Reece Coleman 77 Kyle Ward 80
462 St. Stithians Boys 230 Shaunak Rama 74 Connor Williamson 76 Daniel Fraser 80; 232 Connor Williamson 73 Luke Ellis 78 Shaunak Rama 81
463 Fairmont High School 235 Ian Botha 72 Travis Procter 79 Joshua Wiese 84; 228 Ian Botha 74 Joshua Wiese 75 Kaylah Williams 79
466 Woodlands International College 230 Grant Ferreira 74 Liam van Deventer 74 Dylan Miller 82; 236 Liam van Deventer 72 Grant Ferreira 74 Dylan Miller 90
470 Daniel Pienaar Technical High School 231 Tiaan van der Bank 74 Percy Adolph 77 Curtley Stofberg 80; 239 Tiaan van der Bank 76 Curtley Stofberg 79 Marcello Jantjies 84
473 HTS Middelburg 237 Reghard Viljoen 72 Behn Heyns 80 Heinrich Venter 85; 236 Reghard Viljoen 72 Wynand van Dyk 78 Behn Heyns 86
474 Clifton College 234 Cade Cryer 77 Matthew Kruger 78 Andrew Inggs 79; 240 Cade Cryer 79 Matthew Kruger 80 James Alan Jarvis 81
487 Tuks Sport High School 242 Sihle Zakwe 77 Tshimollo Mapefane 80 Kaamil Bahm 85; 245 Tshimollo Mapefane 78 Sihle Zakwe 83 Joshua Venter 84
488 Middelburg Hoërskool 247 Darren Neyt 75 Evert Buurman 83 Zane Nel 89; 241 Evert Buurman 78 Darren Neyt 78 Zane Nel 85
494 Klerksdorp Hoërskool 246 Andre van Dyk 76 Jaco Anderson 83 Brendan Snyman 87; 248 Jaco Anderson 78 Andre van Dyk 83 Brendan Snyman 87
498 Rondebosch Boys High 245 Jonathan Streicher 79 Kieran Urquhart 83 Gabriel Max Gad 83; 253 Kieran Urquhart 80 Jonathan Streicher 85 Gabriel Max Gad 88
503 Marais Viljoen High 254 Gustav de Lange 83 Jordan Hart 85 Brohnan Borrajeiro 86; 249 Jordan Hart 80 Brohnan Borrajeiro 81 JD Prinsloo 88248 Hoërskool Lichtenburg 248 Christiaan Maritz 79 Lou van rensburg 84 Ruben Kotze 85; 0 Christiaan Maritz DQ Lou van Rensburg DQ WH Smit DQ
Individual results (Top 20):
135 Wilco Nienaber 64 71
140 Christiaan Maas 69 71
141 Carl Mwale 69 72
142 Daniel Cronje 71 71
143 Jean Pierre van der Watt 71 72; Cole Stevens 70 73
144 Reghard Viljoen 72 72
146 Liam van Deventer 74 72; Ian Botha 72 74
147 Calvin Maia 77 70; Francois Cilliers 74 73; Benji Stein 73 74; Brendan Porter 70 77; Francois van der Walt 70 77
148 Grant Ferreira 74 74; Kieron van Wyk 72 76; Titouan Berny 72 76
149 Aidon Willemse 76 73; Connor Williamson 76 73; Damian Osner 72 77
Credit: GolfRSA
