Keenan Davidse’s runner-up finish at the VOG Arabella last week has given him the confidence boost he needs as he continues his move towards his Asian Tour dream.
It was Davidse second top-10 finish – his first coming in April at the Zambia Sugar Open – as he joined Jaco Ahlers and Titch Moore in T2 behind Keith Horne. Now, he is even more determined to play his way on to the Asian Tour via qualifying school in January.
‘I’m very happy. I missed the last two cuts and feel like I’m playing well, so I’m happy with second place,’ he said at Arabella.
‘I’m sort of using these events as preparation. I’m obviously going to Asia soon, so this was also preparation to go over there and start playing there,’ Davidse said. Despite his plans of going to play abroad, the member of the Gary Player Class of 2017-18 has more immediate desires.
‘I really want to win very badly,’ said Davidse.
‘I guess it’s just a matter of patience. I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball nicely, I mean, I made 15 birdies to finish under par. I could have won this tournament (VOG Arabella), but I’m happy with the way I played.’
Davidse’s time in the winners’ circle might not have come yet, but he remains the most outstanding performer from the Gary Player Class of 2017-18, as he lies 24th on the Order of Merit for the season. His decision to test himself in Asia therefore comes as no surprise, given his talent and already-tested big-match-temperament.
*The Gary Player Class of 2017 is the Sunshine Tour’s main development squad for previously disadvantaged professional golfers and benefits from the longstanding and continued support of the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) that was founded in 1999 as the official body for golf development in South Africa, as well as the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation (EEFF) in the collective effort to use golf to improve the lives of disadvantaged South Africans.
