As one of South Africa’s most famous trickshot golfers, Gauteng North professional Michael Scholz pulled off a highly entertaining victory in the PGA National Championship, presented by Diners Club at Stellenbosch Golf Club on Thursday.
Scholz signed for a final round of 69 to win on 10 under par, one stroke clear of Robert Wiederkehr and Pieter Kruger.
And he did so despite a bogey at the last.
Playing behind Scholz, Kruger was then left with a chance to force a playoff as he stood at 10 under on the 18th green. But he also made bogey for a 71 that handed Scholz the title.
“It was an unbelievable week and it was nice to be in contention and then put it all together,” said Scholz, who for years was a touring professional on the Sunshine Tour before qualifying as a PGA of South Africa professional last year.
This was his first victory in the PGA of South Africa National Championship. And it was also thanks to a tip given to him by the very man that the trophy is named after.
“To have my name on the Denis Hutchinson trophy is an absolute honour. About three years ago, Denis gave me a tip about putting, in which he said just swing the club, and it’s made such a difference to my putting.”
Scholz eagled the par-five 12th hole for the third time in three days to work his way into contention on the final day. But he admits he still wasn’t sure he’d done enough at that point.
“I think they must scatter my ashes on that 12th hole one day. But to be honest, I thought Pieter had taken care of it. He’s a great player and I figured I was too far off the pace. It was hard work coming home and the nerves were there. But it’s just such an honour to be the PGA of South Africa’s national champion.”
For Ivano Ficalbi, the Chief Executive of the PGA of South Africa, Scholz was a worthy champion, given what he represents in the South African golf industry.
“Michael’s outgoing personality and his love for the game is a good fit for the PGA. Even though he’s not your typical associated club professional, a PGA professional is somebody who works in the golf industry. That’s what Michael is. He’s an entertainer and he plays golf to have fun and he represents our brand in an unbelievable way, because he wants more people playing the game.”
Ethel Nyembe, Head of Card Issuing for Standard Bank, said the national championship was another major success in the partnership between the PGA of South Africa and Diners Club.
“This country turns out such great golfers. PGA professionals change the lives of amateur golfers and also impact the future champions of tomorrow. So we as Diners Club like to feel we’ve helped make a contribution to this.”
Final scores from the PGA National Championship presented by Diners Club at the par-72 Stellenbosch Golf Club:
206 Michael Scholz 67 70 69
207 Robert Wiederkehr 70 66 71; Pieter Kruger 67 69 71
209 Clinton Grobler 70 66 73
210 William Guy 72 71 67
211 Kenneth Dube 72 69 70
214 Darrin Hedley 72 68 74
216 Altus Kapp 75 74 67; Blanche Lamprecht 74 72 70
217 Michael Michell 74 72 71; Dane Vosloo 71 72 74; Billy Meyburgh 67 77 73
218 Andrew Mackie 74 66 78
219 Craig Stickling 76 70 73; Gregg Upton 73 74 72; Michael du Toit 70 74 75
220 James Wade 75 74 71; Stephan Spies 72 75 73; Conrad du Plooy 71 74 75
221 Henk Alberts 72 75 74
222 William Lake ZIM 75 74 73; Jurgen Heitz GER 73 76 73
223 Ben Fouchee 75 72 76; Robert Braithwaite 74 72 77; Songs Sonamzi 73 69 81
224 Keagan Beyer 74 75 75; Pierre van Vuuren 70 73 81
226 David Riddle 77 74 75; Wietz Botes 77 71 78
227 TJ Biggs 79 77 71; Alan Michell 75 75 77
228 Ian Eveleigh 77 77 74; Johan Smit 74 80 74; Renato Santo 74 76 78
229 Paul McKenzie 77 76 76; Morten Bredahl 77 74 78; Christiaan Jonck 76 79 74; John Dickson 75 79 75; De Waal Botha 74 78 77; Johan Engelbrecht 72 79 78
230 Adriaan Vorster 79 75 76; Neil Whitehorn 75 80 75; Stefan Visage 74 74 82; Steve Cottingham 71 79 80
232 Philip du Preez 78 76 78; Rudy Mertz 74 81 77
233 Chris Clayton 76 81 76
235 Mathew Golder 76 75 84
236 Paul Simmons 75 82 79
238 Artur Pereira 76 78 84
MC Zander Potgieter BRN 81 77 MC; Almar Creighton 79 79 MC; Ryno Rudolph 79 79 MC; Herman Vorster 79 79 MC; Abrie Swanepoel 77 81 MC; Ryan Reid 74 84 MC; Jaco Vermeulen 80 79 MC; Mark Wiltshire 82 78 MC; Paul Bradshaw 80 80 MC; Jan Steenekamp 78 82 MC; Francois Taljaard 78 82 MC; Cedric Brummer 76 84 MC; Byron Nel 84 77 MC; Craig Lewthwaite 81 80 MC; Justin Rube 80 81 MC; Pieter Woest 87 78 MC; Morne Jurgens 79 88 MC; Alwyn Vorster 83 85 MC; JP Viviers 86 88 MC; Richard Lee 89 86 MC; Adrian Buchner 89 89 MC
DQ Dean Nysschen 75 DQ MC
WD Kevin Booysen 78 WD MC; Ian Kennedy 79 WD MC
