Jayden Schaper captured his second Sunshine Tour Junior Series title in wire-to-wire style in the Dimension Data Junior Open at Fancourt on Friday.
Schaper got off to a rather scrappy start in the final round at the Montagu Course.
With nine holes to go, the outlook was dismal for the country’s top-ranked junior, but the 17-year-old rallied with a pair of birdies for a three-over-par 75 to edge out Ayden Senger from Western Province and Werner Deyzel from Gauteng North for a one-stroke victory on eight-under-par 209.
Having fired a six-under-par 67 in the first round at the Links and five-under-par 67 at the Outeniqua Course in round two, Schaper began the final round at 11 under with a four-shot lead over Senger and five shots clear of Deyzel.
A bogey start signalled problems and Schaper bled bogeys while Senger and Deyzel pounced.
‘The putter turned ice-cold and shots were dropping like flies,’ said Schaper, who also dropped shots at five, seven, eight and nine.
‘By the time we reached the turn, I was tied with Werner at six under and Ayden had moved to eight under. But I knew I could still do it, because I always play better when I’m chasing.’
Schaper showed his mettle when he came from behind to win the 2016 Tshwane Junior Open in a play-off and won his third Nomads SA Boys title in a play-off at the U-19 Stroke Play Championship in April.
Schaper birdied 13 and when Senger bogeyed 13 and 14, the trio were tied at seven under.
Deyzel, though, dropped a shot at 15 as Senger matched Schaper’s birdie at 16. The pair headed down the final hole tied at eight under, with Deyzel two behind.
Senger’s title bid drowned in the water surrounding the island green, but Deyzel was on the green for two and still had an eagle chance to force a play-off.
‘Unfortunately for Werner his putt pulled up short of the hole and I just had to tap in for the win,’ said Schaper. ‘I definitely felt more in control after the turn and the putts started to drop. This was one of the toughest wins of my career. I had to hang tough and stay patient and I’m really pleased that I got the job done.’
Deyzel birdied the final hole for a 71 and Senger signed for an even-par 72 to tie for second at seven under 210.
Last year’s champion, reigning Sanlam SA Amateur champion Christo Lamprecht from Southern Cape closed with a 68 to take fourth on 213, while Chris Woollam from KwaZulu-Natal carded a 73 to round out the top five at three under 214.
Dimension Data Junior Open Result (Top 20)
209 Jayden Schaper 67 67 75
210 Werner Deyzel 76 63 71; Ayden Senger 69 69 72
213 Christo (Jnr) Lamprecht 72 73 68
214 Chris Woollam 73 68 73
215 Wilco Nienaber 74 71 70; Tyron Davidowitz 74 71 70; NJ Botha 73 70 72
217 Dandre Spies 81 66 70; Alex van Wyk 74 69 74; Armand van Dyk 73 70 74; Andre van Dyk 72 73 72; Martin Vorster 72 72 73
218 Yurav Premlall 82 66 70
219 Pieter Zietsman 78 65 76; Shaun Jones 76 69 74; Deon Germishuys 71 72 76
220 Oliver Goldhill 74 75 71; Keegan Mclachlan 73 73 74
221 Jordan Burnand 77 70 74; Ian Botha 76 72 73
Photo: Golf RSA
