NATIONAL NEWS - TuksSport High School launched their bid for a third victory in the South African High School Championship with solid first round 219, but the defending champions will have pull out the stops to overhaul Waterkloof High School to celebrate on Friday.
The 2012 champions opened with an even-par 216 at Irene Country Club, courtesy of Estiaan Conradie (71), JP Cooper (72) and Eric Nel (73), and will carry a three stroke lead into the final round of the prestigious annual team competition.
South Africa’s top ranked junior Dylan Naidoo fired a four under 68 to anchor the TuksSport side, while Marco Steyn rallied from four over to contribute a 74.
Rookie Richard Rodrigues returned a 77 and Sentanio Minnie signed for a non-counting 78.
Ruan Pretorius (73), Therion Nel (75) and SAGDB member Attie van Wyk (79) from Grey College in Bloemfontein combined for 227 to finish third, four strokes ahead of Affies and five clear of Glendwood House.
TuksSport High School won the championship in 2011, but Waterkloof High School claimed the 2012 championship with a runaway eight stroke victory over Dainfern College at Country Club Johannesburg.
In 2013, the glory belonged to King Edward VII School (KES), but Steyn ensured a second podium finish for TuksSport High School when he edged out Cameron Moralee in a play-off at Bloemfontein Golf Club last year.
The side started the final round four strokes off the pace, but Naidoo redeemed himself after a non-counting first round 85 with a 72 that significantly boosted their score, while Steyn shot 73 and Minnie posted 76 to tie Rundle on 446.
Naidoo could once again prove the spoke in the wheel.
The reigning Nomads SA Boys U-19 Stroke Play champion arrived in South Africa on the back of a third place finish in the Optimist International Junior Championship in Florida on Sunday and he certainly had the measure of the Irene layout.
He mixed two early bogeys with six birdies, including a string of three from the ninth, to finish three strokes clear of Wingate Park’s Conradie.
“We know Irene is a tricky course. It’s a regular professional tour stop and these guys know how to set up a tough test,” said team manager Bradley Nienaber.
TEAM SCORES – ROUND ONE
216 Hoerskool Waterkloof - Estiaan Conradie 71 Juan-Pierre Cooper 72 Eric Brett Nel 73
219 Tuks Sports High School - Dylan Naidoo 68 Marco Steyn(MH) 74 Richard Rodrigues 77
227 Rundle College - Julien Sale 75 Franklin Manchest 75 Caylum Boon 77
231 Affies - Adriaan Swart 75 Jean Hannah 78 Dawid Opperman 78
232 Glenwood House - Bradley de Beer 76 Jean Pierre van der Watt 78 Alex van Wyk 78
233 Hoerskool de Villiers Graaf - Tyron Davidowitz 77 Herman Loubser 77 Dandre Spies 79
234 Paarl Boys High - Eduard de Villiers 75 Ethan Smith 79 Konrad Zeelie 80
235 Durban High School - Ruben Coetzer 73 Daniel Govender 80 Fanelesibonge Hlophe 82
235 Curro Aurora - Keelan van Wyk 74 Cole Stevens 75 Cara Ford 86
237 Marais Viljoen - Kyle Klopper 72 Tian Swart 80 David Ross 85
237 HTS Middelburg - Reghard Viljoen 76 Zandré Storm 80 Hanro Kilian 81
239 Hoerskool Strand - Deon Germishuys 72 Gunther Greffrath 83 Eric Veldsman 84
242 Dainfern College - David Meyers 76 Cameron Walker 81 Brody Leather 85
244 Hoerskool Lydenberg - Tiaan Brits 76 Schalk Grobler 84 Jacques Brits 84
246 Hoerskool Rustenburg - Hendrik Naude 80 Hawk Wolff 81 Christoffel Enslin 85
250 Affies Kroonstad - Ge-Rico Muller 76 Kobus du Preez 85 Franco Froneman 89
251 Fairmont High School - Christiaan Steenkamp 79 Connor de Groote 82 Ian Botha 90
253 Hoerskool Ben Viljoen - Ian Jacobs 80 Jean-Jaques Rossouw 86 Ludwigh Lubcker 87
253 Grey High (PE) - Jonno Southwood 81 Andrew Jeffrey 84 Nyameko Heshu 88
257 Daniel Pienaar HS - Tian Delport 81 Jarod Allers 88 Edrich Jonck 88
261 Delmas Hoerskool - Johannes Vorster 80 George Dickinson 89 Frederick Coleman 92
271 Hudson Park HS - Byron Toogood 83 Tristan Naude 88 Brendon Brown 100
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD – TOP 20
68 Dylan Naidoo
71 Estiaan Conradie
72 Deon Germishuys; Kyle Klopper; Juan-Pierre Cooper
73 Eric Brett Nel; Ruan Pretorius; Ruben Coetzer
74 Marco Steyn(MH); Keelan van Wyk
75 Cole Stevens; Eduard de Villiers; Therion Nel; Julien Sale; Franklin Manchest; Adriaan Swart
76 Bradley de Beer; Tiaan Brits; David Meyers; D Kok; Ge-Rico Muller; Reghard Viljoen
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.
