Ekurhuleni’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout battled to a comprehensive wire-to-wire victory, on the Milnerton Golf Links, on April 23, to seal his second Western Province Stroke Play Championship title in two years.
Unlike the sunny conditions that encouraged low scoring over the first two rounds, the field was assaulted by a fierce south-easterly wind that gusted with force during the third and fourth rounds.
As the wind raged up to 37km per hour, the country’s number one ranked amateur wrestled his way to rounds of 71 and 74, to seal a six-stroke victory on a six-under-par 278.
The Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation member was absolutely thrilled with the victory.
“It was great to win under the trying conditions,” said the 19-year-old Bezuidenhout.
“I was really excited when I won the title last year, but this year’s win actually means so much more to me.
“I am really pleased with the way I hung in there, because at times we were playing in a five-club wind and my frustration levels went climbing through the roof.”
The youngster found tee to green tough, but he especially struggled on the greens.
“Every putt was a gamble, because of the gusts, and I really battled just to keep the pace; I had two birdies and a bogey on the front nine in the final round, but the back nine were just plain ugly,” he said.
“I three-putted the 10th, which broke my momentum, and I ended up with three bogeys in a row.
“I hit a poor chip into the 11th and I was still 20 feet short of the green after hitting a driver and three-wood at the par-four 12.
“I dropped another shot at the 14th, but I managed to get one back with a birdie on the 15th.”
Bezuidenhout said he was thrilled to walk off the 18th as the champion, despite a bogey finish.
“Days like today are a great test of your patience and your determination,” said the young golfer.
