Danie van Niekerk’s caddie broke his driver on the fourth hole and he had to play the rest of the course with a three-wood, but that didn’t stop him claiming top spot in the First Stage of Q-School with a total 13-under-par 288 at State Mines Country Club on Friday.
Van Niekerk ascended to the leading position on the second day at State Mines and didn’t let go until the final round, where he shot level-par to book his spot in the Second Stage to be held at Randpark Golf Club next week.
Reflecting on the week, Van Niekerk said: ‘The First Stage for me was very nice. I played well and I’m happy I finished top. Today was a mission; I went four-under through the first 12 holes and finished even-par. I will take that. Now, I’m through to Second Stage and I am feeling very positive.’
Bennie van der Merwe and Garth Wolter also held on to their respective second and third round three positions, with scores of nine under for Van der Merwe and eight under for Wolter. They both shot 73s today, but that won’t bother them an awful lot, as spots in the Second Stage are secured.
Van der Merwe said he is full of confidence going into next week and that his game is feeling good enough to compete at that gruelling Second Stage of Q-School. ‘I played well and finished second and that gave me a lot of confidence for next week,’ he said.
Wolter’s 67, 69, 71 and 73 were enough to earn him a spot and he was no less happy with the week’s work.
‘I’m very happy with the week I have just had. I just had to get through this week; it was tough. Second Stage for me is where the hard work begins,’ said Wolter. ‘The guys here were very good, and that can only mean it will get tougher next week. I will have to pull up my socks.’
American Cody Martin and Jacques P de Villiers finished on seven-under-par 288.
The following players have made it into the Final Stage of Qualifying School at Randpark Golf Club:
-13 – Danie Van Niekerk 67 67 69 72
-9 – Bennie van der Merwe 70 68 68 73
-8 – Garth Wolter 67 69 71 73
-7 – Cody Martin 71 69 70 71, Jacques P de Villiers 67 69 73 72
-6 – Chris Cannon 67 69 73 73, Teagan Moore 68 71 70 73
-5 – CJ Levey 71 70 71 71, Dylan Docherty 76 67 68 72, Paul Colditz 72 65 72 74, Juran Dreyer 65 74 70 74
-4 – PJ van der Merwe 67 72 75 70, Jonathan Waschefort 73 69 72 70, Jade Buitendag 67 74 72 71, Matt Bright 73 69 71 71, Ruan Korb 72 71 69 72, Matias Calderon 70 71 67 76
-3 – Gregg Blainey 67 74 72 72, Oscar Floren 70 71 72 72, Paul Boshoff 72 73 67 73
-2 – Tristen Strydom 72 73 67 74
-1 – Luke Jerling 77 71 69 70, Riaan Swart 73 71 76 67, Zabastian de Jager 71 69 72 75
Par – Basil Wright 74 72 71 71, Joubert van Eeden 73 71 74 70, Christian Basson 78 70 66 74