Cameron Olivant (14) finished runner-up in the Kloof CC Junior Matchplay Championships held over five days and ending on Tuesday.
It was a sterling effort from the young golfer, who lost 1-down in the final to Tyrone Keylock.
Cameron, who attends Southcity Christian College, goes into Grade 9 next year; Tyrone is going into matric at Kearsney College.
The tournament was a real battle of endurance in many regards.
First up was a round of strokeplay qualifying, then players went into a group stage playing matchplay five games.
After this the top two in each pool qualified for the quarter-finals.
Cameron shot 74 in the strokeplay and finished in the top five. Thereafter, he won all his pool games.
He won his quarter- and semi-finals by fairly big margins, but found the final a little tougher.
The drizzly cold weather did not help matters much but he soldiered on bravely.
It was cut and thrust the whole way, with the players arriving on the 18th tee all square.
Cameron unfortunately made a bogey and Tyrone was able to par the hole and secure the win.
Afterwards he was more tired than disappointed – from Friday to Tuesday he played nine rounds which comprised 140 holes.
He thoroughly enjoyed the experience, making 15 birdies in total. Some of his highlights during the week included driving the par four 8th green, hitting the flag on the 12th for a near ace, and almost holing out on the par three 18th.
One of the factors that stood him in good stead was that he putted very well on Kloof’s bent-grass greens. This is something that’s not always easy to adapt to but he handled it with aplomb.
He dominated most of the matchplay games, with only two (including the final) going to the last hole.
Cameron, who is a member at both Port Shepstone and Southbroom (where he is handicapped) has a break now until December 27, where the next lot of tournaments will get going.
Nic Crossman (Southbroom) also took part at Kloof but did not have his best-ever tournament, shooting 83 in the strokeplay and winning just one of his five pool games.
He will have the chance to rectify that in the forthcoming tournaments.
These are: December 27 – Amanzimtoti, January 3 – Umdoni Park, January 7 – Margate, January 8 – Port Shepstone, January 9 – Southbroom.
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