Schaper in tip-top shape
There are few doubts that Ebotse Links and Ekurhuleni Junior Golf Union talent Jayden Schaper (15) is primed for the big time.
The Morehill resident enjoyed a week of tremendous success, last week, by producing moments of brilliance to win two u-19 tournaments via play-off victories along with other good finishes at other recent events.
His first big win came on Tuesday, July 12 when he produced two moments of brilliance on the 18th hole at Modderfontein Golf Club to savour a play-off victory in the Nomads National Order of Merit (NOoM).
The St Dunstan’s College pupil and Nomads South African Boys u-15 champion began the final round with a two shot advantage, but looked certain to be heading out in disappointment after he bogeyed holes 15 and 17.
He, however, 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 Dylan Mostert and Cole Stevens.
The trio returned to the 18th tee for another trip down the closing par four.
“Dylan hit his 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 event with good form following a seventh place finish in the Dimension Data Junior Open a week before and a tie for sixth in the Nomads SA Boys u-17 Championship, both in George.
The talented club-swinger then took his good form to the capital city where, just three days after his big victory at Modderfontein, he produced a nerveless display to defeat Ge-Rico Muller at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off to scoop the Tshwane Junior Open title at Pretoria Country Club on Friday.
“I’m really proud of this victory, because I had to work really hard for this one,” he said.
“I really wanted to win one of the Sunshine Junior Tour titles and I was sure I could do it after Modderfontein.
“The front nine killed me in the first round, but I held on and I pulled it through.
“The NOoM win on Tuesday was for me, but this one is for my parents and my coach Grant Veenstra to say thanks for all their support and for believing in me.”
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