Jovan Rebula sent England’s Tom Sloman packing at the 123rd Amateur at Royal Aberdeen as he booked a place in the semi-finals.
Sloman defeated top-ranked qualifier and Rebula’s countryman, Wilco Nienaber, late on Thursday but Rebula put an end to his tournament in Scotland on Friday morning.
As the nephew of Ernie Els, Rebula has often played with a target on his back but the 20-year-old Auburn University star has seen off stiff competition to book his place in the final four.
A par on the 4th was enough for Rebula to go 1 up in a cagey start before a birdie on the par-five 6th helped him into a two-hole advantage. Two quickly became three on the next hole with Rebula holding a commanding lead.
That lead was down to a single hole after a double on the 9th and a bogey on the long par-five 12th hole meant another nervy finish was on hand.
The defining hole would prove to be the 14th where a birdie helped Rebula increase his lead in a match where he never trailed. A par at the 17th was enough for a 2 & 1 win as he set up a semi-final clash against Mitch Waite later today.
The next English foe arrives in the final four after a win over Sweden’s Christoffer Palsson, who downed South Africa’s Luca Filippi in the round of 16.
While another act of revenge won’t be on Rebula’s mind, it wouldn’t hurt to see another victory over a player who ended the fortunes of a colleague.
Photo: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
