7 July 2015 – Ross Sinclair from Gauteng North claimed a two stroke victory in his second start on the American Junior Golf Association’s Junior Tour in June.
Sinclair opened with a 71 in the Under Armour® / Jeff Overton Championship, but slipped to a tie for 27th after a 77 in the second round.
The 17-year-old Centurion golfer lagged eight strokes off the pace at Otter Creek Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio, but he overhauled the leaders with a flawless nine-under-par 63 to triumph on five under 211.
Moreover, Sinclair’s blistering final round that featured seven birdies and an eagle-three also bettered the previous course record – set by host Overton during the State Amateur Championship in 2003 – by one stroke.
The reigning Nomads SA Boys U-19 Match Play champion is ranked third on the South African Golf Association’s Junior Rankings. He finished second in the Sanlam SA Amateur Stroke Play qualifier on the Open Amateur circuit in April and has impressed with three top 10 finishes in just four starts on the IGT Tour this season.
The GFG Academy player was hoping to do well in the USA, but never expected to break into the winner’s circle so soon.
“I just wanted to try a different approach in the final round to try and improve my overall score,” Sinclair said.
“I stayed away from my driver and I focussed on accuracy, instead of distance. I was a bit nervous going into 18, but I came away with a two-putt par and that pleased me.
“I only heard about the course record after I finished the round. I was totally speechless. This is only my second AJGA event and it’s really exciting to come out on top, because I knew I had it in me.”
Sinclair will line up in the Under Armour® / Jordan Spieth Championship at the University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas this week.
PHOTO – Ross Sinclair; credit AJGA.