Walters, Aiken have points to prove in Africa Open
Justin Walters heads to East London Golf Club for this week's Africa Open still contemplating what could have been, but confident of what is yet to come.
FILE PICTURE: Justin Walters. Picture: Luke Walker/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images.
Walters came close to a maiden European Tour victory in last week’s Joburg Open, heading into the final round tied for the lead before slipping with a 73 to finish in a share of second place.
For a man who had contended so well for the previous three rounds, falling just short to eventual champion George Coetzee was a blow. But Walters is able to take enough positives out of that tournament, heading into the Africa Open as a very different player from the one he was a week ago.
“At the beginning of the Joburg Open, if you gave me tied second I would’ve taken it. But given the situation now I am a little disappointed. I didn’t play as well on the final day as I did the previous three days. I hit some good shots but didn’t really get a lot for them. So overall I’m disappointed,” Walters said.
“But I did get my exemption into the Open Championship, and it’s the highest finish I’ve had in a big event in my country. So it’s a step forward.”
The Africa Open also represents a chance at redemption for Thomas Aiken. A disappointing final round of 74 in last week’s Joburg Open saw him trade a share of the lead for a finish of tied fifth.
His record in the Africa Open is a solid one, suggesting he will soon claim a third European Tour title, but more importantly the one in South Africa he so desperately wants.
In his last four appearances in the Africa Open, Aiken has not finished worse than 14th, and he had a top finish of second in 2010.
And rookie professional Brandon Stone will be out to build on his impressive share of 16th in the Joburg Open, having been given a sponsor’s invitation to compete in the Africa Open.
The winning record of South African professionals in their home country in 2014 also seems set to continue following Louis Oosthuizen’s victory in the Volvo Golf Champions and Coetzee’s triumph in the Joburg Open.
The Europeans head to East London with the knowledge that since the inaugural Africa Open in 2008 no foreigner has ever won this tournament.
– Sapa
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