Ekurhuleni’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout battled to a comprehensive wire-to-wire victory, on the Milnerton Golf Links, on April 23, to seal his second Western Province Stroke Play Championship title in two years.<\/p>\n
Unlike the sunny conditions that encouraged low scoring over the first two rounds, the field was assaulted by a fierce south-easterly wind that gusted with force during the third and fourth rounds.<\/p>
As the wind raged up to 37km per hour, the country’s number one ranked amateur wrestled his way to rounds of 71 and 74, to seal a six-stroke victory on a six-under-par 278.<\/p>\n
The Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation member was absolutely thrilled with the victory.<\/p>
“It was great to win under the trying conditions,” said the 19-year-old Bezuidenhout.<\/p>\n
“I was really excited when I won the title last year, but this year’s win actually means so much more to me.<\/p>\n
“I am really pleased with the way I hung in there, because at times we were playing in a five-club wind and my frustration levels went climbing through the roof.”<\/p>\n
The youngster found tee to green tough, but he especially struggled on the greens.<\/p>\n
“Every putt was a gamble, because of the gusts, and I really battled just to keep the pace; I had two birdies and a bogey on the front nine in the final round, but the back nine were just plain ugly,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I three-putted the 10th, which broke my momentum, and I ended up with three bogeys in a row.<\/p>\n
“I hit a poor chip into the 11th and I was still 20 feet short of the green after hitting a driver and three-wood at the par-four 12.<\/p>\n
“I dropped another shot at the 14th, but I managed to get one back with a birdie on the 15th.”<\/p>\n
Bezuidenhout said he was thrilled to walk off the 18th as the champion, despite a bogey finish.<\/p>\n
“Days like today are a great test of your patience and your determination,” said the young golfer.<\/p>\n