Rose blooms in Nomads National event

Central Gauteng’s Kian Rose holed a timely chip shot from over the back of the green for birdie on the final hole to snatch victory in the Nomads Inland National Order of Merit Inland at Modderfontein Golf Club.

The 17-year-old from Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club fired a final round six-under-par 66 to surpass overnight leader Christiaan Maas and claim his first national title and second major tournament victory, following his success in the first Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series.

Kian Rose from Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club fired a final round 66 at Modderfontein Golf Club to claim his first national title in the Nomads National Order of Merit Inland; credit GolfRSA.

Having struggled to a level par opening round, Rose made five birdies, an eagle and solitary drop to win by a stroke over Nikhil Rama.

“The first day was a little messy,” he explained. “I think I only hit seven greens in regulation, but thankfully my short game kept me in it.

“I was only two back and I knew I couldn’t play as badly as the first round, so it was a relief when I started well. From then on it was almost perfect – I was hitting fairways and greens and I only made one mistake, on the 17th.

“I even holed out from the bunker for eagle on the 13^th and then I chipped in for birdie on the last.”

Rose lost out to Ekurhuleni junior Yurav Premlall in the first Nomads National Order of Merit event of the season at Umhlali Country Club and was delighted to tick the box at Modderfontein.

He was a member in his earlier years and may have benefitted from some local knowledge, although he admits it had been over two years since his last round on the course. Thankfully for him, the familiar surroundings brought out the best in his game.

“I had been going through a rough patch with my long irons and my driver. but when I started the second round, everything just fell into place’” he said. “I’m so happy with this win. It’s definitely my best so far and it’s great to achieve one of the goals I set for myself this season.

“I love playing the Nomads tournaments because a huge step up from provincial golf. It’s great to compete in these events where I can test myself against the best juniors in the country on some of the best courses.”

Rama shot a second-round 68 to finish alone in second, although the 17-year-old Bryanston junior will feel like he let one slip away with a bogey and a double bogey from the 14th hole. He made amends with a birdie on the 17^th, and a two-shot swing, but was ultimately undone by Rose’s birdie chip.

Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s Samual Mckenzie finished third on 2 under, Maas from Pretoria Country Club was fourth on 1 under, while Kieron van Wyk from Ruimsig and Pecanwood’s Nash de Klerk shared fifth spot.

Final Result

138 Kian Rose 72 66

139 Nikhil Rama 71 68

142 Samual Mckenzie 74 68

143 Christiaan Maas 70 73

147 Kieron van Wyk 77 70; Nash de Klerk 74 73

148 Zandre Labuschagne 72 76

149 Ayden Senger 76 73; Judd Sundelson 76 73; Drikus Joubert 76 73

150 Matthew Dennis 78 72

151 Alessio Graziani 77 74

152 Max Hansen 81 71; Simon du Plooy 78 74; Ivan Verster 76 76; Jaime Clive Lewis 75 77

153 Nico Booyens 74 79; Christopher Bagnall 74 79

154 Jaco Anderson 79 75; Alric Rowaan Rooi 77 77; Kyle Kistensamy 77 77; Jaden Deltel 76 78; Angus Klintworth 71 83

155 Divan Mostert 80 75; Amilkar Bhana 79 76; Ethan Gough 77 78; Herman du Plessis 76 79

156 Hezron Frieslaar 79 77; Nico Els 78 78; Deacon Rudolph 77 79

157 Lyle Pedro 79 78; Emerson Bam 78 79; Cole Stevens 78 79; Jarryd Elliott 78 79; Carl Mwale 78 79; Darren Neyt 76 81

158 Sean Tsipa 84 74

159 Ryan van der Klis 79 80

160 Romain Legentil 81 79; Wiehan van der Walt 78 82; Remon Rabie 77 83

161 Angelo Keffers 83 78; Hermanus Meyer (Jnr) 79 82; Marcus Taylor 79 82; Murad Hoosen 78 83

162 Dean Wilken 85 77; Mitchell Hampson 82 80; Zander Lombard 81 81

163 Kael Kurt Strydom 79 84; Kayle Wykes 79 84; Tristan Leonard 78 85

164 Tobias Jan de Flamingh 81 83

165 Christian Lewis 83 82; Louis James Barnard 83 82; John-William Blomerus 79 86

166 Matthew Mc Carthy 88 78; Marco Dennis Anderson 80 86

168 Brendan Moller 86 82; Francois Jansen van Rensburg 85 83; Dylan Melville 84 84

170 Matt Walters 86 84; Justin Bester 84 86

171 Zamokuhle Nxasana 83 88; Jan-Hendrik Nieuwoudt 80 91

172 Enzo Barbaglia 88 84

174 Rorisang Nkosi(Jnr) 93 81; Declan Brews 92 82

175 Justin Smith 87 88

178 Blake Botes 87 91

189 Xolani Mbungu 95 94

190 Dylan Snyman 104 86

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