JOHANNESBURG, 9 July 2015 –  It was a little more work than he planned on, but the result was precisely the one Herman Loubser was hoping for. On a day of high drama, Loubser squandered a five stroke overnight lead and had to fend off a spirited attack from Gauteng North’s Werner Deyzel at Randpark Golf Club.

However, when it mattered most, the 16-year-old Boland junior holed crucial putts at the closing holes of the Bushwillow Course to close out for a one stroke victory in the Nomads SA Boys Under-17 Championship.

Loubser signed off with a 73 to triumph on nine-under-par 279 and win by same margin he lost last year’s championship to Dylan Naidoo at Polokwane Golf Club.

“I can’t even describe how sweet this feels after coming so close last year,” said Loubser, who now owns two SA Boys titles, having claimed a six stroke victory in the Nomads SA Boys U-15 Championship in 2014.

Deyzel from Woodhill Country Club signed for a three-under-69 to take second on 280.

Central Gauteng’s Guy Waterhouse fired a 66 and Gauteng North’s Dylan Mostert carded an equally impressive 67 to tie for third on 283.

Loubser cut two strokes off a healthy lead with a double-bogey at the par-five third.

“I hit my approach into the wrong slope on the green, the ball rolled into the water and I walked off with a seven,” Loubser said.

“Werner rocked home a 20-footer for eagle at the first and was just one stroke behind me at that stage. I knew the battle was on.”

Loubser stayed in front through 14 holes with gains at five, nine and 12, but Deyzel was nine under and within two strokes after birdies at five, eight, nine, 11 and 12 and bogeys at six, seven and 13.

A two-shot swing at 15 left the pair tied on 10 under.

“I fluffed my chip from a bad lie and made bogey, and Werner chipped in for birdie,” Loubser said.

“Then I three-putted from 30 feet at 16 for another bogey. Werner made a solid par to pull one clear.”

However, Deyzel hooked his approach over the cart path into the hazard at 17.

“Werner hit a great chip from the hazard to nine feet, but he missed the first putt and had to clean up for bogey,” Loubser said.

“We were tied for the lead playing the last. We both drove it nicely and we were half a foot apart in the fairway. I hit my approach to 30 feet, but Werner hooked his sand-wedge again and found the bunker.

“He splashed out to 10 feet, but his par-putt burned the edge of the hole and stayed out.

“I lagged my first putt close and just had to knock it in to seal the win. I feel for Werner, though, because I know just how disappointed I was to come up short last year.”
Deyzel was disappointed but owned the loss.

“It’s disappointing, because it was mine to win and I kind of gave it away,” Werner said.

“I blew it with the sand-wedge at 17 and 18 and put a bad stroke on that par-putt at 18, so the loss is all my own doing.

“Hats off to Herman, who was an awesome playing partner and a well-deserved winner. Maybe he has started a trend and I will be the one holding the trophy next year.”

FINAL RESULT – TOP 20
279 Herman Loubser 70 65 71 73
280 Werner Deyzel 65 76 70 69
283 Guy Waterhouse 72 75 70 66; Dylan Mostert 71 71 74 67
284 Wilco Nienaber 69 73 72 70
285 Deon Germishuys 75 71 68 71; Keegan Mclachlan 73 73 70 69
286 Eric Wowor 72 68 72 74
288 Clifford Thompson 72 70 70 76
289 Keelan van Wyk 71 70 79 69
290 Luca Filippi 68 71 76 75
291 Garrick Higgo 74 72 69 76; Luke Mayo 69 72 75 75
293 Sebastian Terblanche 75 76 70 72
294 Alex van Wyk 75 71 74 74; Emilio Pera 73 74 77 70; Willie Olivier 73 72 72 77; Martin Vorster 72 78 71 73
295 Chris Woollam 72 78 73 72
296 Bradley de Beer 78 72 72 74; Morne van Wyk 73 74 77 72; Justin Kersten ZIM 72 70 72 82

PHOTO – Boland junior Herman Loubser won the 2015 Nomads SA Boys U-17 Championship at Randpark Golf Club; credit Brendan Croft / SASPA