JOHANNESBURG, 8 July 2015 – Boland junior Herman Loubser was in sublime form at Randpark Golf Club after a seven-under-par 65 saw him pull four strokes clear of Luca Filippi in the second round of the Nomads SA Boys Under-17 Championship on Wednesday.
Loubser played most of his golf in the Isle of Man and he didn’t waste any time to make an impression on the local circuit when his family returned to South Africa in December 2013.
He celebrated his first start on home soil with a six stroke victory in the Nomads SA Boys U-15 Championship at the Fish River Sun Country Club in January, and came agonisingly to a podium finish in the Nomads SA Boys Under-17 Championship six months later.
Loubser lost the challenge at Polokwane Golf Club by one stroke to Dylan Naidoo and is hungry to make amends.
The 16-year-old from Theewaterskloof Golf Club took advantage of the mild weather in Randpark to go on a birdie binge at the Bushwillow course.
He reeled in nine birdies, including a hat-trick of gains from 11 to 13, to take pole position.
“I played well tee to green, but the putter was really hot,” Loubser said.
“I holed a lot of putts from 15 to 30 feet. The course set-up was a nice mix of fair and tough holes, but the greens are nice and firm and really rolling well. I’m pleased that I took advantage of the putter to put myself in contention again.”
Filippi from Western Province mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 71 to finish on five under, while Eric Wowor from Central Gauteng moved into third on four under with a four under 68.
Overnight leader Werner Deysel from Gauteng North ran into trouble on his front nine and slipped to three under.
The 15-year-old Woodhill golfer blasted from the blocks with an eagle at the par-five 10th, but his challenge took a downward spiral with double bogeys at 13, 16 and 17. Deysel birdied the first and parred his way home for a 75 and a share of fourth with Keelan van Wyk from Central Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal’s Luke Mayo.
Van Wyk from the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation carded a 70, and Mayo from Mayo from Mount Edgecombe returned a 72.
SECOND ROUND SCORES – TOP 30
135 Herman Loubser 70 65
139 Luca Filippi 68 71
140 Eric Wowor 72 68
141 Keelan van Wyk 71 70; Luke Mayo 69 72; Werner Deyzel 65 76
142 Clifford Thompson 72 70; Justin Kersten ZIM 72 70; Dylan Mostert 71 71; Wilco Nienaber 69 73
145 Willie Olivier 73 72; Cole Stevens 73 72; Christiaan Burke 72 73; Haydn Driver 71 74
146 Willem Boshoff 78 68; Alex van Wyk 75 71; Deon Germishuys 75 71; Garrick Higgo 74 72; Keegan Mclachlan 73 73
147 Dino Capazario 75 72; Emilio Pera 73 74; Morne van Wyk 73 74; Slade Pickering 72 75; Guy Waterhouse 72 75
148 Wian van Aswegen 79 69; Casey Jarvis 74 74; Reece Haikney 74 74
149 Zandre Bellingan 77 72; Shaun Jones 74 75; Vaughn van Deventer 72 77; Reece Els 71 78
PHOTO – Werner Deysel from Gauteng North; credit Rene Janse van Rensburg.
For further information, please contact:
Gerhard Conradie (SAGA President) Cell: 082 374 3454
Bruce Younge (SAGA Executive Director) Cell: 082 374 3455
Eden Thompson (SAGA Golf Integration Manager) Cell: 078 574 0652
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.
Lali Stander
The Write Word Sports Media Consultants
TEL: +27 82 990 7150
EMAIL: lalistander@gmail.com