JOHANNESBURG, 12 July 2016 –Ebotse’s Jayden Schaper produced two moments of brilliance on the 18th hole to savour a play-off victory in the Nomads National Order of Merit at Modderfontein Golf Club on Tuesday.

Cole Stevens held the outright lead at three under through 15 holes, but the Parkview junior followed a bogey at 16 with a double bogey at 17 and set the clubhouse target at even-par 144 with a final round 73. Dylan Mostert reeled in successive birdies at 16 and 17 to close with a 70 and the State Mines junior joined Cole in pole position.

Meanwhile Schaper was fighting for survival.

The reigning Nomads SA Boys U-15 champion began the final round with a two shot advantage, but looked certain to heading out in disappointment after he bogeyed 15 and 17. However, the 15-year-old old hit a perfect tee shot down the middle of the 18th fairway and a superb approach into the green that left him with a clutch putt to force a tie with Mostert and Stevens.

“And then I had to do it all over again,” joked a relieved Schaper after he signed for a 77. “Walking to 18, I knew I still had a slim chance. The tee shot was pure and the approach was one of those once in a lifetime shots. And I made very sure of the line and pace on the birdie putt.”

The trio returned to the 18th tee for another trip down the closing par four.

“Dylan hit five -iron down the middle of the fairway, I followed him with a four-iron, but Cole pulled his three-wood left into the trees,” Schaper explained.

“Cole laid up in front of the water with his second. Dylan hit his second on the right edge of the green and my approach finished 20 feet behind the pin. Cole’s third shot spun about a foot past my ball.

“Dylan’s chip came out too soft and he still had 15 feet left to save par and Cole’s putt for par shaved the hole. I lagged my putt an inch short of the hole and after Dylan missed his par-save, all I had to do was tap in for win.”

Schaper came into this week with good form following a seventh place finish in the Dimension Data Junior Open a week ago and a tie for sixth in the Nomads SA Boys U-17 Championship last Friday.

“I was really excited after taking the lead in round one, but I’ve never had to work harder to win something,” said the Grant Veenstra Golf Academy player.

“Yes, I’m relieved that I was able to pull it through, but I made a few mistakes. I hope I can put the lessons to good use in the Tshwane Junior Open next week. I had a few unlucky breaks and putts that didn’t drop in the final round, but to be honest, my focus wasn’t on the golf.

“I worried too much about protecting my lead and I let my mind wander. I got ahead of myself and lost focus. I stayed in the moment in the play-off and that’s what pulled it through. I never expected to make the play-off, but the way I won showed me that I need to keep my head in the game. I fought hard and I feel very positive that this experience will help me to win again in the future.”

NOoM MODDERFONTEIN FINAL RESULT:
144 Jayden Schaper 67 77 (1st hole play-off)
144 Dylan Mostert 74 70; Cole Stevens 71 73
147 Slade Pickering 76 71; Keegan Mclachlan 74 73; Brendan Porter 69 78; Wilco Nienaber 69 78
149 Christiaan Burke 74 75; Deon Germishuys 74 75
150 Luke Brown 76 74; Chris Woollam 73 77
151 Otto van Buynder 77 74; Clifford Thompson 76 75; Dehan Joubert 76 75; Dan Copeman 73 78
152 David Ross 78 74; Keanu Pestana 77 75; Tristan Maharaj 77 75; Vaughn van Deventer 76 76; Alex van Wyk 74 78
153 Alexander van der Merwe 78 75; Jason Shaun Hale 76 77; Yurav Premlall 74 79; Freddie Spencer 73 80
154 Andre van Dyk 77 77; Sentanio Minnie 75 79
155 Tristan Galant 78 77; Luyanda Mdanda 77 78; Reece Haikney 76 79
156 Ben van Wyk 77 79; Cameron Walker 77 79
157 Liam van Deventer 81 76; Ettiene Jonck 80 77; Franklin Manchest 80 77
158 Nicholas Souranis 84 74
159 Rigardt Albertse 77 82; Tristan Malan 76 83
160 Kyle De Beer 82 78; Luhan Bester 82 78; Brandon Esterhuizen 80 80; Chase Paton 79 81
161 Banele Mavuso 86 75; Zandre Bellingan 78 83; Haydn Driver 77 84
162 Kieron van Wyk 79 83; Angus Klintworth 77 85
163 Tiaan Brits 83 80; John Louis Liebenberg 83 80; Jordan Burnand 80 83; Shaun Jones 78 85
164 Nkosenye Carl Mwale 89 75; Jacques du Preez 80 84
165 Thanassi Vrysoulis 85 80; Bryce Leach 82 83; Brandon Geere 79 86
166 Ryan van Velzen 84 82; Samual Mckenzie 81 85; Jared Botha 79 87
167 Francois van Staden 88 79; Leander Snyman 87 80; Alessio Graziani 84 83; Werner Deyzel 82 85
168 Ricardo Loock 82 86
169 Ge-Rico Muller 89 80
170 Jordan Van Niekerk 89 81; Edwin Kruger 86 84
171 James Vorster Jnr 82 89
172 Fanelesibonge Hlophe 78 94
173 Sheldon-Lee van der Berg 88 85
175 Dylan Morton 87 88

PHOTO – NOoM Modderfontein winner Jayden Schaper with Nomads Gauteng Captain Barry Bruton ; credit Hardus van der Merwe.