Germishuys guns to glory in Nomads SA Boys

Deon Germishuys took route 66 – twice – on Wednesday to claim his second Nomads SA Boys Under-19 Stroke Play Championship title at Woodhill Country Club.

Two years ago, an eagle finish in the third round was the kicker that boosted the Western Province junior to victory at Bloemfontein Golf Club. And another third round eagle – this time at the par five 17th – turned the tide for 2018 Sanlam SA Amateur champion this time around.

Germishuys was six shots off the pace after rounds of 73 and 70, but vaulted into contention courtesy of a flawless third round six-under 66.                                                                   

“I had four birdies, but I was still quite far behind the leaders and the eagle changed the momentum,” said Germishuys of his 13-under-par 275 triumph. “I hit a good drive down the middle and 7-iron to about 12 foot behind the pin. I had a slippery left-to-right downhill putt left, but I hit it straight on the line and it dropped.”

Germishuys joined Werner Deyzel from Gauteng North in second and the pair was just one shot shy of Christiaan Burke from North West and Central Gauteng junior Cole Stevens, who set the 54-hole target at eight-under.

It took the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge team-mates just a few holes to dislodge the frontrunners.

Making the most of his home course advantage, Deyzel racked up four birdies in the first five holes, while Germishuys got off the mark with a pair of gains at the first and third holes.

“Werner had a double bogey at six and I dropped a shot at the eighth,” said Germishuys. “I took on a risky shot with the driver in the third round, so I went with 3-wood instead, but I drew it too much and ended up in the fairway bunker. Then I hit the trap-shot too good, overshot the green and couldn’t up and down to save par.”

Deyzel made three birdies on the bounce from the ninth, but Germishuys also warmed up the putter.

“The putts started dropping on the back nine,” said the 18-year-old Strand golfer. “I birdied 11 and made a six metre putt for birdie at 13. At 15, I missed the green right from 105 metres and had about eight metres to the pin. I was annoyed with myself, but then I holed it from the fringe.”

Deyzel, meanwhile, bogeyed 14 and 16 either side of an eagle at 14 and the pair were tied for the lead after both players birdied the par five 17th.

“We both hit it down the fairway,” said Germishuys. “I had the same distance that I had at 15, but I aimed it a little more left this time and the ball stopped two feet from the hole. Werner hit his approach to five metres. His birdie putt pulled up two inches short and I tapped in for the win.”

Deyzel, who also carded 66, tied for second with South African Golf Development Board member Stevens, who closed with a final round 68.

Germishuys was absolutely thrilled with the outcome.

“This victory almost means more to me that the first time, because I think I appreciate it more this time around,” said the two-time Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series, winner.

“We often get told we should stop playing junior events once we finish matric. I don’t agree. I love playing the junior circuit because it’s super competitive. I’m really grateful to the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation and GolfRSA for the opportunities and support they have given me, including competing here at Woodhill this week.”

Winning the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship was a career-defining moment for Germishuys and he hopes to draw on the experience when he starts the Match Play Championship on Thursday.

“I reckon I’ve improved some, so hopefully this year, I’ll get a bit further in the knock-out stage,” said Germishuys, who faces Ben van Wyk from Southern Cape in the first round.

Final Result

275 Deon Germishuys 73 70 66 66

276 Werner Deyzel 71 70 69 66; Cole Stevens 69 70 69 68

278 Christo Lamprecht Jnr 65 73 71 69

279 Jayden Schaper 69 68 73 69

280 Martin Vorster 73 68 72 67; Shaun Jones 70 70 73 67; Christiaan Burke 68 71 69 72

282 Casey Jarvis 75 72 69 66; Chris Woollam 72 71 74 65; Barend Botha 70 70 70 72

284 Jordan Burnand 74 72 70 68; Dino Capazario 71 71 69 73

285 Keegan Mclachlan 74 70 72 69; Bradley de Beer 74 69 77 65; Yurav Premlall 73 69 70 73; David Amm ZIM 67 73 74 71

287 Saul Moss 73 65 78 71; Jordan Duminy 71 73 70 73

288 Ayden Senger 76 71 68 73; Tyran Snyders 72 68 77 71

289 Max Hansen 74 71 71 73; Warwick Purchase 70 68 80 71

290 Ryan van Velzen 71 73 72 74

291 Samual Mckenzie 74 72 70 75; Dean Sanders 73 72 73 73

292 Tristan Galant 73 72 74 73; Reece Coleman 71 73 74 74; Alessio Graziani 70 70 77 75; Luhan Bester 69 78 75 70

293 Nikhil Gopal 76 73 71 73; Ben van Wyk 75 74 71 73; Oliver Goldhill 73 76 74 70; Jean Pierre van der Watt 72 75 74 72; Alexander Pienaar 69 73 75 76

294 Marcus Taylor 78 69 77 70; NJ Botha 78 68 73 75; Angus Klintworth 77 72 77 68; Devon Whitaker 77 70 71 76; Stals Swart 76 74 72 72; Miles Taylor 73 75 73 73; Kieron van Wyk 71 74 72 77

295 Daniel Cronje 79 71 72 73; Samuel Simpson 76 69 78 72; Nikhil Rama 72 72 73 78; Liam van Deventer 71 72 76 76

296 Simon du Plooy 77 73 71 75; Joshua Koekemoer 74 76 78 68; Romain Legentil 74 72 73 77

297 Murad Hoosen 73 73 74 77

298 Francois van der Walt 75 69 76 78; Eben Spangenberg 73 76 75 74

299 Benji Stein 77 72 73 77; Calvin Maia 73 75 78 73

300 Daniel van Seumeren 77 73 76 74; Freddie Spencer 76 73 73 78; LB Boshoff 74 73 81 72; Kyle Solomon 72 76 74 78

301 Brandon Weir 78 71 78 74; Donneo Catanho 76 74 74 77; Rigardt Albertse 73 77 73 78

302 Luke Pienaar 73 73 75 81

303 Nash de Klerk 73 76 76 78; Sean Cronje 73 76 75 79; Judd Sundelson 71 77 81 74

304 Francois Cilliers 76 74 80 74

307 Carel Tromp 78 71 80 78

309 Henning Stander 75 74 78 82

311 Rudie Haasbroek 76 74 78 83

312 Craig Louw 77 71 87 77

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