12 May 2015 – South Africa’s number one ranked Tristen Strydom continued his hot streak, claiming his third podium finish in five weeks at Port Shepstone, while Gauteng North’s Jason Smith cemented his third spot in the SAGA Open Amateur rankings with a top three finish in the KwaZulu-Natal Open Championship title on Sunday.
Strydom carded rounds of 69, 65, 66 and 70 to triumph on 18-under-par 270. He finished five strokes clear of Western Province’s Sean Bradley, while Smith from Irene finished seven strokes off the pace after closing with a six-under-par 66.
Reinhardt Blaauw from Centurion tied for sixth on five under, while the country’s number two ranked Teaghan Gauche from Wingate Park grabbed a share of 11th on two under alongside Marco Loubser from Centurion, among others.
Other top 20 finishers from Gauteng North included Dylan Mostert and Arno Pretorius.
FINAL RESULT – TOP 20
270 Tristen Strydom 69 65 66 70
275 Sean Bradley 71 68 70 66
277 Jason Smith 73 67 71 66
278 Matthew Spacey 72 67 69 70
281 Andre Nel 73 72 67 69
283 Kyle McClatchie 75 67 73 68; Neal Herman 73 70 71 69; Reinhardt Blaauw 72 71 69 71; Ian Snyman 68 71 71 73
285 Aubrey Beckley 78 71 68 68
286 Carlo O’Reilly 76 70 70 70; Darin de Smidt 75 71 71 69; Siyanda Mwandla 74 70 73 69; Marco Loubser 73 72 74 67; Teaghan Gauche 69 74 71 72
287 Jade Buitendag 71 73 74 69; Dylan Mostert 70 72 71 74
289 Keegan Steyn 77 70 72 70; Luke Mayo 73 72 73 71
291 Jason Rossiter 77 69 77 68; Anuerin Gounden 71 70 75 75; Arno Pretorius 70 73 72 76
PHOTO – Jason Smith; credit Catherine Kotze / SASPA.