Midstream College claims Ernie Els Champs glory
HARTEBEESPOORT, 6 August 2019 – Midstream College edged out first round leaders Laerskool Wierdepark in a tight final round battle at Magalies Park Golf Club to lift the Ernie Els SA Primary School Championship title.
Midstream College celebrates victory in the ninth Ernie Els SA Primary School Championship at Magalies Park Golf Club; credit GolfRSA.
Front (left to right) – Rigardt van Zyl, William Reyneke, Luan Coetzee and Ben van Wyk.
Back – Team manager Nols Eksteen.
Laerskool Hendrik Schoeman learner Janko van der Merwe conquered his home course to lift the Individual Competition title by three strokes in the ninth Ernie Els SA Primary School Championship at Magalies Park Golf Club; credit GolfRSA
William Reyneke, Ben van Wyk, Luan Coetzee and Rigardt van Zyl secured their first trophy in the ninth edition of the popular national team event, hosted by four-time Major champion Ernie Els.
Reyneke (77), Van Wyk (82) and Coetzee (83) combined for an opening total of 242 and Midstream College started Tuesday’s final round six strokes adrift of Laerskool Wierdapark.
Van Zyl, who posted a non-counting 85 on day one, led the charge on the last day.
The Still Bay golfer anchored the team with an eight-under-par 80, while Coetzee contributed 82 and Reyneke carded 83. Van Wyk returned a non-counting 90. A final round 246 catapulted the Midstream College quartet straight to the top of the leaderboard.
Laerskool Wierdapark posted 255 to settle for second.
Midstream College team manager Nols Eksteen was over the moon with the team’s winning performance. “Three of our juniors were playing together for a third successive year, but they all know each other well and we had a great team spirit. We all know golf is an individual sport, but these boys really played for each other,” said Eksteen.
“Over the two rounds, the boys encouraged each other and used their parents and me to send messages of support. They all tried to put the best score possible on the board for the team, not for themselves. All four players contributed to this victory and that was key to our success.
“I am extremely proud of their determination and tenacity, especially in the final round and with the enthusiasm and commitment they showed this week.”
Nolte lauded Magalies Park on posing a great challenge for the juniors in this year’s event.
“Ernie Els might be close to 50, but he is still out there competing and all these kids love him. It’s a huge honour to compete in this event and these kids compete hard to make the teams. This is also a huge stage for our juniors and a championship of this stature should be played at a testing layout that contributes to the development of our juniors.
“Magalies Park is such a venue. The course has matured into a proper championship layout in the last 10 years. It is not exceptionally long, but this is not the kind of course where you hit driver off every tee; it demands good course management, planning and positioning.
“Congratulations to David Younge from GolfRSA and William von Mierlo from Magalies Park on running a very well-organised championship and presenting us with a fantastic course that will have taught our youngsters some really important lessons this week.”
Not surprisingly, local golfer Janko van der Merwe lifted the Individual Competition title.
The 13-year-old learner from Laerskool Hendrik Schoeman opened with a five-over 77 but he had the measure of the 5 359-metre layout in the final round. Van der Merwe fired four birdies in his last six holes on his way to a four-under-par 68 and a three-shot victory over first round leader Marno Lange on one-over 145.
The teenager attributed his success to accuracy and execution. “I hit a lot of fairways and greens and made some key putts and that was the difference between the first and final rounds.”
Van der Merwe was six shots off the pace at the start of the day, but a trio of birdies got him within striking distance of Lange. Although he three-putted for a double bogey at 10, the Magalies Park golfer was still in the fight after Lange also dropped some shots on the back nine.
He gained the lead with birdies at 13 and 15 and sealed victory with a birdie-birdie finish.
“I holed a 19-metre putt on 17 for birdie, and after a great drive down the middle on 18, I hit a 3-wood just short of the green and chipped it close to up-and-down for birdie,” Van der Merwe said. “This is my first win on the national circuit, so I am super excited.”
Team Results
(Best 3 scores of 4 to count)
488 Midstream College 242 William Reyneke 77 Benjamin van Wyk 82 Luan Coetzee 83; 246 Rigardt van Zyl 80 Luan Coetzee 81 William Reyneke 85
491 Laerskool Wierdapark 236 Raymond van Niekerk 72 Vian Jansen van Vuuren 76 Wessel Kruger 88; 255 Vian Jansen van Vuuren 79 Wessel Kruger 88 Raymond van Niekerk 88
499 Laerskool Vastrap 242 Jurie Blignaut 77 Ian Bezuidenhout 81 Aidan Drummond 84; 257 Gert Hendrik Naude 83 Jurie Blignaut 84 Ian Bezuidenhout 90
514 Laerskool Kruinsig 254 Marno Lange 71 Juan Coetzee 87 Darius Jansen 96; 260 Marno Lange 77 Juan Coetzee 91 Darius Jansen 92
515 Laerskool Hendrik Schoeman 257 Janko van der Merwe 77 Divan de Villiers 90 Stephan van Rooyen 90; 258 Janko van der Merwe 68 Divan de Villiers 89 Dandre Allers 101
528 Highbury 263 Reece Brown 82 Matthew McGill 88 Byron Chandler 93; 265 Reece Brown 85 Matthew McGill 88 Byron Chandler 92
539 Umhlali Preparatory 273 Troy Taylor 86 Louis Souchon 90 Kamaya Moodliar 97; 266 Troy Taylor 82 Kamaya Moodliar 90 Louis Souchon 94
543 St Stithians Preparatory 256 Peter Watt 83 Gabriel Hore 85 Jamie Joseph 88; 287 Peter Watt 85 Gabriel Hore 101 Francois C. Botes 101
545 Curro Serengeti 274 Tyron Groenveld 79 Josh Plaatjies 83 Connor Olfsen 112; 271 Tyron Groenveld 75 Josh Plaatjies 91 Connor Olfsen 105
545 Laerskool George 267 Nathan Jacobs 80 Marnus Janse Van Rensburg 89 Ross Els 98; 278 Nathan Jacobs 89 Marnus Janse Van Rensburg 92 Ruan Strauss 97
553 Laerskool Fairland 273 Jean du Toit 86 Jean Taljaard 92 Stephan Nel 95; 280 Jean du Toit 86 Jean Taljaard 96 Tyrone van Schelt 98
555 Laerskool Concordia 276 Walter Green 80 Jaydon van Breda 80 James Howatt 116; 279 Jaydon van Breda 80 Walter Green 86 Dian Prinsloo 113
562 Laerskool Delmas 290 Matthew Parrott 86 Etienne de Bruin 94 David Roos 110; 272 Matthew Parrott 78 Etienne de Bruin 91 Divan Le Roux 103
566 Grey Junior 281 Jon Hobson 87 Steve Lee 90 Jordan Strydom 104; 285 Jon Hobson 89 Steve Lee 94 Jordan Strydom 102
577 Laerskool Middelburg 291 Brendan van den Heever 94 De Wet Beyers 98 Jaden Harding 99; 286 Brendan van den Heever 87 De Wet Beyers 98 Jaden Harding 101
Individual Competition Results
145 Janko van der Merwe 77 68
148 Marno Lange 71 77
154 Tyron Groenveld 79 75
155 Vian Jansen van Vuuren 76 79
160 Jaydon van Breda 80 80; Raymond van Niekerk 72 88
161 Jurie Blignaut 77 84
162 William Reyneke 77 85
164 Matthew Parrott 86 78; Luan Coetzee 83 81
165 Rigardt van Zyl 85 80
166 Walter Green 80 86
167 Reece Brown 82 85
168 Troy Taylor 86 82; Gert Naude 85 83; Peter Watt 83 85
169 Nathan Jacobs 80 89
171 Ian Bezuidenhout 81 90
172 Jean du Toit 86 86; Benjamin van Wyk 82 90
174 Josh Plaatjies 83 91
176 Wessel Kruger 88 88; Matthew McGill 88 88; Jon Hobson 87 89
178 Juan Coetzee 87 91
179 Nathan Schwartz 90 89; Divan de Villiers 90 89
180 Aidan Drummond 84 96
181 Brendan van den Heever 94 87; Marnus Janse Van Rensburg 89 92
184 Steve Lee 90 94; Louis Souchon 90 94
185 Etienne de Bruin 94 91; Byron Chandler 93 92
186 Gabriel Hore 85 101
187 Kamaya Moodliar 97 90
188 Darius Ruben Jansen 96 92; Jean Taljaard 92 96
191 Jamie Joseph 88 103
193 Tristan Richard Glenny 95 98
194 Stephan Nel 95 99; Stephan van Rooyen 90 104
196 De Wet Beyers 98 98; Tyrone van Schelt 98 98
199 Ruan Strauss 102 97; Jared Hermann 98 101; Francois Botes 98 101
200 Jaden Harding 99 101; Ross Els 98 102
202 Llewelyn Steenberg 98 104
206 Jordan Strydom 104 102
208 Dandre Allers 107 101
214 Divan Le Roux 111 103
216 David Roos 110 106
217 Connor Olfsen 112 105
232 Aydan Knollys 119 113
233 James Howatt 116 117
234 Dian Prinsloo 121 113
244 Marune’ Nel 120 124
245 Ethan Connett 122 123