Lombard takes two at IGT Centurion
Zander Lombard from Pretoria recently proved why he is considered South Africa's second best amateur golfer when he won his second tournament in three weeks in the IGT Race to Q-School series.
Top South African amateur Zander Lombard recovered from a late little wobble to avoid a play-off and claim a one-stroke victory in the 10th IGT Race to Q-School at the Centurion Country Club recently.
The country’s number two ranked amateur began the final round four strokes off the pace from overnight leader Pieter Kruger, but put himself in the title race with birdies at the two par-fives.
The 18-year-old Lombard from Woodhill erased an errant bogey at the par-four 13th with another birdie at the par-five 15th and finished with a two-under-par 70 that lifted him one clear of Kruger and Rae Mackie, who carded respective rounds of 75 and 72.
Lombard’s six-under-par 210 victory marks his second IGT Tour coup since he stormed to a five-stroke triumph in the IGT Race to Q-School Silver Lakes event three weeks ago. And the success could not have come at a better time.
Missing the cut at the recent South African Open Championship damaged Lombard’s confidence just a little, but being able to win five days later has strengthened his resolve to work towards a professional career in the next six months.
“I wasn’t at my best at Glendower, but in retrospect, I don’t consider it a write-off because I learned some invaluable lessons from the experience,” Lombard said.
“I was disappointed at first, but now I feel quite boosted by the experience. It definitely made me more determined to succeed and it really fired me on this week.”
But the Pretoria golfer was also quick to point out that his second win was largely thanks to Kruger, who took a big hit at the par-four fourth hole.
“Pieter hit it out of bounds twice and walked off with an eight, and that really hurt his round,” Lombard said. “My heart goes out to him, because that is the nature of this game. One guy’s loss is another guy’s gain and today it was mine.”
Lombard said that playing the IGT Race to Q-School series has also given him a new perspective. “It was great to tee it up at Centurion this week and to work my way to victory,” he said. “I managed to keep the mistakes to a minimum and I applied some great course management in the final round.
“Playing in the IGT events has also given me some perspective and I’ve decided to put the pro ranks on hold for a few months and just get some more experience against the professionals under my belt.”
