Happy Brabazon birthday for McClatchie
'I have just been in the zone and apart from a couple of bad swings, I played great all week'
SOUTH Africa’s top ranked amateur spent the best part of his 20th birthday on the Hotchkin Course at the Woodhall Spa Golf Club in England on Sunday, but it was worth the effort when he was presented with the best gift he could hope for, the coveted Brabazon Trophy.
McClatchie, who plays at Serengeti Golf Club, came under intense pressure in the final round from Scotland’s Jamie Stewart and English duo Jack Singh Brar and Jake Burnage, but a birdie putt at the final hole for a two-under-par 71 helped him to close out a one-shot victory over the British trio.
“As birthday presents go, just a Major title could top this,” said the delighted GolfRSA national squad player after his 10-under-par 282 triumph.
McClatchie’s name will be added to those of Neville Sundelson (1974), Richard Kaplan (1986), Craig Rivett (1989) and Charl Schwartzel (2002) and he was thrilled to continue South Africa’s proud history in the prestigious English men’s open amateur strokeplay championship.
“I’m over the moon to hold this trophy,” McClatchie said.
“I have just been in the zone and apart from a couple of bad swings, I played great all week. I think a huge turning point for me was holding on to a share of the third round lead in the brutal conditions. I wasn’t too worried, even after I had dropped a couple early on.
“I just focussed on my own game and tried to make good shots to stay in the running. Jamie deserves some credit for this, because he played really well, especially down the back nine and kept me on my toes.”
Just a tad over three weeks ago, the Serengeti golfer showed up a field of professionals when he romped to a seven-stroke victory on the Big Easy Tour at Killarney Country Club.
His fine run continued with a top 10 finish in the Irish Amateur Championship and joint fifth in the Internationaux de France at Chantilly Golf Club.
McClatchie, Venter, Saulez and Higgo travel to Scotland next where they will compete in the Carrick Neill Scottish Men’s Open Championship with fellow GolfRSA national squad players Marco Steyn and Franklin Manchest. The squad, plus Dylan Naidoo and Jovan Rebula, will compete in the St Andrew’s Links Trophy, before they travel back to England to qualify for the amateur championship on June 19 and 20.
