Western Province junior Deon Germishuys secured his chance to compete for a spot in the prestigious North and South Junior in the USA next year when he won the first Under-19 A-Division title in the Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series on Monday.
Ranked eighth in the country, the former Nomads SA Boys U-19 Stroke Play champion came into the inaugural tournament of the 18-event junior golf development initiative between Bridge Fund Managers and GolfRSA as the pre-tournament favourite.
Germishuys lived up to his billing at Royal Cape Golf Club when he edged out Tristan Galant from King David Mowbray Golf Club by three shots for victory.
‘I knew the spotlight was on me, but I tried not to think about it once we teed off,’ said the 17-year-old Strand golfer.
‘I just had one goal; to win the tournament. To have the chance compete for two spots in the North and South Junior at Pinehurst is a huge opportunity and I definitely want a shot at it.
‘Although the national final will only be played once the series wraps up next March, it’s a relief knowing that I’ve tossed my name in the hat already. Now I can enjoy the rest of the series. I don’t have to stress about qualifying anymore.’
Germishuys erased a bogey at the second with back-to-back birdies at five and six and he was three under par through the turn with an eagle at the par five seventh. He birdied 11 to open up a two-shot lead over Thomas Bezuidenhout from Durbanville Golf Club, and countered a bogey at 17 with a birdie finish for a winning round of four-under-par 68.
‘This was such a fantastic way to start the rest of the season after a two-month break,’ he said.
‘Now I’m also nicely warmed up for the start of the Sunshine Tour Junior Series. I booked my spot in the national final, got the rust off and I am taking some confidence to Fancourt for the start of the Dimension Data Junior Open on Wednesday.’
South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) player Galant took second with a 71, while Gheran Hatting from Bellville Golf Club and Bezuidenhout shared third on one over 73.
Meanwhile, Christopher Gutuza edged out Craig Jacobs in a tightly-fought contest for the B-Division title. Gutuza, from Westlake, and the SAGDB player from Bellville Golf Club both posted rounds of 84 to tie for the lead, but Gutuza took the honours after in a count-out over the last nine holes.
There were also plenty of smiles from the Under-13 winners.
Local junior Caden Chuang birdied the closing hole at his home course for a 75 to defeat Jamie Rickets from Durbanville Golf Club in the A-Division.
Kimon Botoulas from King David Mowbray edged out SAGDB player Mitch Phegeland for B-Division Individual Stableford title on a winning total of 44 points.
Royal Cape winners list:
U-18 A-Division 0-8 h/c
68 – Deon Germishuys (Strand Golf Club)
U-18 A-Division 0-8 h/c Net
67 Thomas Bezuidenhout (Durbanville Golf Club)
U-18 B-Division 9-15 h/c
84 – Christopher Gutuza (Westlake Golf Club)
U-18 B-Division 9-15 h/c Net
74 Jan van Rooyen
U-18 C-Division 16+ Net (Individual Stableford)
37 Naasir Khota (Kind David Mowbray Golf Club)
U-13 A-Division 0-15 h/c
75 – Caden Chuang (Royal Cape Golf Club)
U-13 B-Division 16+ h/c (Individual Stableford)
44 points – Kimon Botoulas (King David Mowbray Golf Club)
Photo: Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series Royal Cape winner Deon Germishuys from Strand Golf Club with Bridge Fund Managers executive director Paul Stewart (GolfRSA)
