O’Riley rallies to maiden IGT Tour win
Benoni Country Club golfer Dean O’Riley outfoxed the leaders over the last nine holes at Centurion Country Club, to secure his maiden IGT Tour title in the fifth Race to Q-School, presented by Pro Squad Academy, on Wednesday, November 4.
O’Riley had to settle for second in the first event in the nine-tournament Race to Q-School series, and tied for third in the second, but the Benoni player finally got his just reward at the popular Tshwane layout.
The 26-year-old trailed by five going into the final round, but fired a five under 67 to close out a two-stroke victory over NJ Arnoldi on eight under 208.
“This victory is extra special, because I had to work very hard for it,” said O’Riley.
“The wind was really strong – at least two clubs – and the course set up was tough.
“The course wasn’t playing that long, but the pins were tucked and you had to plan your shots into the green.
“You couldn’t just fire at the pins.
“At a lot of the holes, you had to play to the middle of the green and two-putt for par, so you had to take advantage of the less severe pins to score.”
O’Riley had a nice start to his round, with birdies at 10 and 12, and produced a string of pars from 14 after a bogey at 13, to turn four under.
Overnight leader Drew Roelofsz was six under after nine and tied with Arnoldi, who went on a tear with five birdies in a row from 12, but dropped shots at 17 and 18.
“I think NJ played incredible golf, because anything under par on the front nine was fantastic,” O’Riley said.
“I always struggle a little on the back nine at Centurion, but I really like the first nine holes.
“It suits my eye better and I knew I could try to chase them down.
“NJ and Drew both birdied one, but when I birdied the first two holes and the fifth, I was within a shot of them.
“Then Drew made a triple from the hazard at six and NJ bogeyed six and the race was on.
“The pins were tricky, but I played that nine in two under in the first round and four under in the second, with a three-putt.
“I knew I could attack a few of the flags coming home.”
O’Riley never wavered, despite a bogey at the penultimate hole.
He guaranteed his first podium finish on the country’s premier development tour, with birdies at seven and nine, while Arnoldi finished birdie-par-bogey and Roelofsz dropped five shots at the last three holes.
“I am really, really pleased with this victory,” said O’Riley.
“I have worked very hard in the last couple of months to prepare for the Race to Q-School, because I wanted to be at my absolute best for the Sunshine Tour’s Qualifying School.
“I am striking the ball really well, but my short game is back where it needs to be when I am not driving it well.
“I feel like the short game is back where it was when I rose to number one in the amateur rankings, and it has given me confidence and self-belief again.”
Terence Boardman closed with a 70, to finish in third on 211, while Jacques de Villiers took fourth on one under with a final round 75.
