Grobler takes the plaudits at the Lake Club
It was a lot more work than he expected, but the end result was exactly the one Clinton Grobler was hoping for.
Having squandered the overnight lead early on, the 22-year-old rookie from Krugersdorp produced a career-defining performance in the final round of the IGT Tour’s Lake Club Challenge and celebrated a maiden professional victory with a sensational birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off on Wednesday, September 7.
Earlier Pretoria amateur Ruan Conradie reeled in four birdies on the front nine and an eagle on the home stretch for a final round 67 to set the clubhouse target at The Lake Club Benoni, but, Grobler produced a hard-fought for 73 to match the leading number.
After both players parred the first extra hole, Conradie smashed his tee shot down the centre of the fairway and parked a wedge 20 feet from the hole during his third trip down the 18th hole.
Grobler opted for a two-iron off the tee, but his drive finished in the trees down the left fairway, however, he had a clear view of the green and he hit a six-iron with superb precision to 15 feet.
When Conradie’s birdie putt finished short of the hole, Grobler drained a glorious 15-foot birdie putt to seal the win.
“It could have a different result if Ruan’s birdie putt rolled a few centimetres further,” Grobler said.
“I think it’s pretty ironic that I nearly didn’t enter this week’s event because I’ve been putting so poorly in the last six weeks.
“In fact, it was after 10pm on Saturday when I finally entered online.
“I just had a feeling that I should play, so I switched putters this week.
“Next thing, I am leading after two rounds and then I box the putt that mattered most to win.”
• The IGT Tour stayed in Benoni this week with the first round of the IGT Ebotse Links Challenge taking place from Monday, September 12 to Wednesday, September 14.
• Results from the Lake Club Challenge (Top 10):
211 – Clinton Grobler 67, 71, 73.
211 – Ruan Conradie (amateur) 71, 73, 67.
212 – Duane Keun 70, 70, 72.
215 – Martin Rohwer 65, 75, 75.
216 – Kyle Barker (amateur) 73, 71, 72.
217 – Eric Nel AMA 75, 72, 70, Phillip Kruse (amateur) 70, 74, 73, Tristen Strydom (amateur) 75, 68, 74.
219 – David Ashley (England) 73, 73, 73.
220 – Lejan Lewthwaite 74, 75, 71, Jack Duthie (amateur) 72, 74, 74.
221 – Chris van Tonder (amateur) 75, 74, 72, Pieter Moolman 76, 71, 74.
222 – Cameron Nesmith (amateur) 71, 73, 78, Chris Wicks (amateur) 71, 72, 79.
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