Delight for Docherty with IGT breakthrough

Edenvale’s Dylan Docherty rallied to a maiden IGT Challenge Tour title thanks to an impressive back nine performance in the Waterkloof Challenge on Wednesday.

The Modderfontein golfer was two shots back from joint leaders Triston Strydom, David Mofokeng and Duane Keun when he began the final day at Waterkloof Golf Club. He still lagged two behind Strydom at the turn, but Docherty pushed to the top of the pile when he walked in five birdies on the back nine for a five-under-par 67.

When Strydom – playing in the final group – failed to birdie the closing hole to force a play-off, Docherty could celebrate his first success on the country’s premier golf development circuit with a one shot victory on 15-under-par 201.

Strydom had to settle for second after signing for 70, while Mofokeng finish in third on 13 under with a 71. Pretoria rookie Ruan Conradie carded a 68 to take fourth at 12 under, while Keun returned a 73 to finish a further stroke back in joint fifth with Jason Roets and Michael Schutz.

Docherty has had some close calls during the past two years, including the Race to Q-School #3 title, which he lost to David McIntyre in a play-off at State Mines Country Club last October.

“It’s just magic to savour this moment,” said Docherty. “They say that the more you put yourself into a position to win, the easier it gets. Hopefully this is the start of more victories to come.”

He believes a lot of credit is due to the work he has done with Allan Rimmel from Conscious Sport over the last couple of months to improve the mental side of the game.

“I struggled to move past mistakes, and there were two moments in the final round that would have unhinged me in the past; today I rallied and that won me the tournament,” said the Wanna Be A Champion Academy player.

“After a soft bogey at the third I dropped another shot at six. I would have chewed on those bogeys in the past, but today I focussed forward. I hit a great drive down the eighth over the trees on the corner, hit a soft nine-iron in from 147 metres and holed a two-footer for eagle.

“At 11, I tapped in for birdie. I sunk a six-footer for birdie at 13 and chipped and putted for birdie at 14. The 15th is a downhill par three and I fired a nine-iron at the flag and had another tap-in birdie. My approach at 16 trickled off the green and resulted in another bogey.

“That close to the end, I would have been angry in the past, but today I stayed in the moment. I made a good par at 17 and set myself up for a two-putt birdie at the 18th hole. I’ve been playing well this season, but between my mental game and the putter, I haven’t been scoring. This week all the elements I needed to play great golf showed up.”

For Docherty, it feels like he has come full circle.

He joined the pro ranks in 2009 after a successful amateur career, but after just two seasons, a series of injuries derailed his career. After a dog bite to the face and successive knee surgeries, he packed it in, took a position at a logistic company and even got his amateur status back so he could play league. But his heart wasn’t in it.

“The desire to play professionally haunted me,” said the 32-year-old.

“I was fortunate to get the opportunity to try again. I worked really hard and I cruised through First Stage Sunshine Tour Qualifying School in March. I was in a strong position at Final Stage with one round to go, but an eight at the par four 13th ended my campaign.

“I was gutted because I knew I was good enough, but you have to play the hand you’re dealt with. I’ve been playing the Big Easy Tour and the IGT Challenge Tour, but I’ve been struggling and I honestly started to wonder if I have what it takes.

“This win has given me a real injection of confidence. The hard work won’t stop, though. I will continue to chase more trophies on the IGT Challenge Tour and the Big Easy Tour and I plan to play the Mena Tour in September to gain some international experience. And then it’s back to Q-School.”

Final Result

All competitors RSA unless otherwise specified and amateurs indicated as AMA.

201 - Dylan Docherty 69 65 67

202 - Tristen Strydom 66 66 70

203 - David Mofokeng (LSO) 68 64 71

204 - Ruan Conradie 67 69 68

205 - Michael Schutz 71 67 67, Jason Roets 69 68 68, Duane Keun 68 64 73

207 - Rupert Kaminski AMA 69 71 67

208 - Estiaan Conradie 71 70 67, Ivanna Samu 69 66 73, James du Preez AMA 65 69 74

209 - Russel Franz 72 72 65, Tokkie van den Berg 67 70 72

210 - Andrew Williamson AMA 68 71 71

211 - David Nortje AMA 71 70 70, Kyle Barker 72 66 73

212 - Maritz Wessels 71 70 71, Xander Basson AMA 67 68 77

213 - Pieter Moolman 76 67 70, Wayne Stroebel 69 73 71, Louis Albertse AMA 70 72 71

214 - Vaughn van Deventer AMA 73 70 71, Ruan Korb 73 71 70, Andi Dill 72 70 72

216 - Clinton Grobler 68 75 73, Divan Marais 75 72 69

217 - Mpho Mafishe 72 70 75, Jabulane Mabilane 72 72 73

218 - Eric Park (KOR) 70 73 75, Simon Kruger 73 70 75, Chase Paton AMA 72 73 73

219 - Quintin Crause 69 75 75

220 - Jadrick Fourie AMA 76 68 76, Estiaan de Jager AMA 76 70 74

221 - Matthew Hands AMA 76 70 75, Louis Botha 75 71 75, Wade Jacobs AMA 75 72 74, Jacques Cloete AMA 74 77 70

222 - Patrick Thompson 75 70 77

223 - Justin Turner 72 72 79,  JP Cooper AMA 70 77 76, Thabi Ngcobo 74 75 74, Leon Visser AMA 76 74 73

224 - Gareth Anderson AMA 70 72 82, Cameron Gurr AMA 75 72 77, Andrew Plint AMA 71 76 77, Jaco van der Merwe AMA 77 74 73

227 - Tudor Bismark (ZIM) 73 74 80, Christiaan Pretorius 74 76 77, Jancarel Rossouw AMA 74 76 77

229 - Ricardo Towell 79 68 82

230 - Jaco Meyer 77 74 79

WDN - Paul Boshoff 70 72 WDN

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