Pretoria rookie Albert Venter proved that form is temporary but class is permanent as the former top ranked amateur marched to a maiden pro victory in the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour #11 in Alberton last week.

The IGT Challenge Tour is the only developmental golf tour in South Africa that offers a series of events year-long that includes 54 & 72-hole tournaments with a 36-hole cut.

The 22-year-old Venter stayed calm in windy conditions at Reading Country Club to win his first title in fine style, closing with a four-under-par 67 for a two-shot victory on 11-under 202.

Another Pretorian, Matt Bright, already a two-time winner this season, carded 70 to finish second.

Venter, a upcoming star from the Silver Lakes Country Club, started the final day four strokes behind Griffiths, but took grabbed a share of the lead with a birdie-eagle combination at three and four. A further gain at the eighth handed him the outright lead.

“I tapped in for birdie at three and holed a 10-footer for eagle at four. Hayden Griffiths (third) birdied the fourth four to join me in front, but he dropped at six and I made a great up-and-down at eight for birdie to take the lead on my own,” said the former African Amateur champion.

Venter pulled even further clear of the chasing pack with successive birdies at 11 and 12.

“I hit a 5-iron into 11 and boxed a putt from seven foot.  hit my tee shot left at 12 and had 182 metres flag. I hit a 6-iron just short of the green and nearly holed the chip for eagle,” he said.

“They moved the tee box back and left on the sixteenth and I wanted to take the direct line over the trees, but it was the wrong option. I ended up in the bunker and couldn’t up-and-down for par. It was a little disappointing to finish with a bogey,” Venter explained his temporary setback shortly before the end.

However, he learned not to dwell on little things, but to focus on the big picture, Venter said.

“My biggest progress this season has been on the mental side of the game. I’ve realised that you have to pay your dues. You have to work hard, grind, stay patient and wait for your breakthroughs. I’m really pleased with my performance. I’ve been up the leaderboard and close to a win and I’ve fallen down a few times this season, but I’ve been building towards a win lately,” he concluded.

Venter won the Alps Tour Qualifying School last year. He spent 13 weeks competing on the development circuit in Europe, where he made nine cuts in 13 starts. This meant less starts at home, and he was overjoyed when his Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour breakthrough in his fourth start launched him to 16th spot in the Road to Sunshine Tour Rankings.

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