Local sportSport

Two-stroke win for Haydn

Porteous marched to a two-stroke lead to scoop the tournament.

Haydn Porteous overtook his long time junior competitor, Zander Lombard to win the Sunshine Tour 2016 Joburg Open on January 17.

The event was held at the Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

On the 9th Lombard was leading by 17 under par to 15 under par, but on the 18th hole it was Porteous in the lead.

Porteous marched to a two-stroke lead to scoop the tournament.

Mike Green, from the Sunshine Tour, said Porteous carded a final round of three under par 69 on his way to a tournament total of 18 under par. That was two shots clear from Lombard.

During the after match interview, Porteous said he did not have a good start in the tournament. He said he had to revisit his game plan, gym and tactics.

He said he was not expecting an easy cruise on the day.

“I knew that today was going to be quite tough, tough pins, playing as long as it possibly could. I just thought if I hit lots of fairways and lots of greens, I knew I would probably shoot under par. It wasn’t a lot under par but 69 did the job and I couldn’t be happier right now,” he said.

Green said Porteous made seven consecutive pars before he registered his first birdie and then it was as if his instinct to push for victory kicked in.

“He reeled off a succession of delightful approach shots. That string of precision culminated in what he called ‘the best five-iron of my life’ as he stuck his approach to the 18th to within 15 feet. He was nervy over the eagle putt, but he was safely down for birdie and the victory was his. The victory came in large part because he hit every single green in the final round in regulation, and it was only a few putts that slipped by the hole which prevented him from winning by a wider margin,” Green said.

Porteous said he and Lombard have been playing together since their junior golf days.

Sunday’s win earned him a spot at the European Tour playing privileges until the end of 2017.

By taking second in the Joburg Open, Lombard also secured a space in the European Tour.

“It is any golfer’s dream to play in the Open Championship. It is something I didn’t think I was going to get into this year, and through winning this, I’m in! Words can’t describe how happy I am right now,” said Porteous.

Related Articles

Back to top button