Local youngster triumphs in prestigious golf tournament
A young golf star from Centurion's dream of visiting America next year as the winner of the Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series is a step closer to realization after he recently won one of the local tournaments in the series.
17-year-old Ernest Ludick of Centurion recently won the Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series title at Waterkloof Country Club.
Ludick won the play-off against Kieron van Wyk of Ruimsig Country Club and Rorisang Nkosi of Pecanwood Country Club. Both of them earlier matched his 18-hole score of 69.
Ludick, who lives on the Zwartkops Golf Estate in Centurion, was in a confident mood on the 10th tee having played the first nine in two under. A par on the tenth hole followed by a birdie on 11, before his day began to unravel with bogeys on the 12th and 13th holes.
On the tee of the par three 17th Ludick realised he would likely need to finish with two birdies for any chance of winning after he parred the previous three holes. But the pin on the 178m hole was tucked left front, right up against the water – with a right to left cross wind. Ludick bravely took on the dangerous pin position, aiming his six iron just right of the flag and trusting his swing.
“The ball rode the wind towards the flagstick and finished two feet behind the hole. I made birdie,” he explained.
On the final hole, Ludick hit one of his best drives of the day, followed by a great approach leaving seven-foot for eagle on the par five. He missed the tricky downhill left to right putt, but a birdie was good enough for 69 and a spot in the three-way play-off.
His soaring drive on the first play-off hole left just 45m to the flagstick, followed by a pitch to six-feet and an uphill left to right putt for victory.
With the win Ludick qualified for the Bridge Junior Series regional final, where he will compete for the ultimate prize – an all-expenses paid trip to the North and South Junior Championship at Pinehurst, USA in July 2020.
“The opportunity to win a spot at Pinehurst is a big reason for entering the Bridge Junior Series. But the Series is also a big attraction because it draws juniors from all unions, which provides that ‘big tournament’ feel,” said Ludick, whose golfing ambitions are to play the US PGA tour and become the number one golfer in the world.
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