Primrose Hill golfer Victor Lange will take a bucketload of confidence to his upcoming qualifier for the BMW SA Open after bagging his first IGT Challenge Tour victory in the 11th Race to Q-School at Germiston Golf Club on Friday.<\/p>\n
The overnight leader closed with a 67 to seal a four-shot victory on 15-under 201.<\/p>
During his four-year tenure at Louisiana Tech in the United States, Lange accumulated some impressive credentials while almost single-handedly rewriting their record books.<\/p>\n
The former Central Gauteng standout graduated in 2016 with a degree in finance and as one of the most \u2013 if not the most \u2013 accomplished golfer in the school\u2019s history.<\/p>
The 24-year-old put that remarkable talent on show in Thursday\u2019s second round when he wiped out a four-shot deficit with a flawless nine-under-par 63 to catapult into the lead.<\/p>\n
Starting the last round with a one-stroke advantage, Lange kept the chasing pack at bay with birdies at the second, third and fourth holes, although costly mistakes at six and 10 opened the door for a charging Luke Brown.<\/p>\n
Just two months ago, Brown went wire-to-wire around the East Rand layout to lift his maiden title in South Africa\u2019s premier golf development circuit in the fourth Race to Q-School event.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the Sandton amateur lagged three off the pace at the start of the final round, but pulled within a shot of Lange with an eagle at the par-five second and birdies at the fourth, fifth and eighth holes.<\/p>\n
When Lange bogeyed the 10th, Brown took over the driver\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Waitress wins award for club<\/a><\/p>\n Project to aid young golfers<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt was only when I got to the par five that I realised that I was trailing Luke,\u201d said Lange.<\/p>\n \u201cI had an eagle at 13 in the second round, so I was gunning for a birdie, but it turned out to be quite an unorthodox four.<\/p>\n \u201cI leaked my tee shot right and was forced to lay up short of the water.<\/p>\n \u201cI edged it on and had an uphill putt left, about 15 foot from the pin.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the putt dropped it definitely sparked some momentum,\u201d said Lange.<\/p>\n \u201cI hit my tee shot at the next hole slightly off-line, but I hit a great second and caught the fringe.<\/p>\n \u201cI made the putt, and the holes started looking like buckets.\u201d<\/p>\n The par-three 15th was playing straight into the wind.<\/p>\n Lange\u2019s nine-iron tee shot finished on the fringe again, and he holed the putt to move to 14 under.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter a solid par at 16, I thought I had a one-shot lead with two to play,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 17th is a tough hole, but I hit a beautiful second in and made the putt.<\/p>\n \u201cI made a text-book par at the finishing hole, and I only realised that Luke had dropped a couple of shots down the last four holes when I stepped off the green.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually have to thank Luke, because he really inspired me to try and go low over the last six holes,\u201d said Lange.<\/p>\n \u201cI worked incredibly hard on some changes last year, and it\u2019s fantastic to see that all come together like this.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is almost the most confident I\u2019ve ever been with my game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been really fantastic to have this event to prepare for the qualifier, and hopefully it\u2019s good enough to land me a spot in the field at Glendower next week.\u201d<\/p>\n Brown took second on his own with a closing 68, while a 67 secured third on 10-under for Andi Dill.<\/p>\n Pretoria amateur Danielle du Toit \u2013 fresh from her victory in the All-India Ladies Amateur \u2013 carded rounds of 70, 73 and 71 in her first IGT Challenge Tour appearance to tie for 18 on two under with IGT Challenge Tour winner Thriston Lawrence and Andre van Heerden.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n