Brilliant young Pretoria teen a cut above in national amateur golf champs
A schoolboy from Pretoria took his remarkable rise on the golf course a step further when he was crowned national amateur champion last week.
17-year-old teenager from Pretoria, Christiaan Maas, continued his remarkable rise as one of South Africa’s most promising young golfers when he lifted the trophy as national amateur men’s champion last week.
Maas made good on his promise of playing aggressive golf in his 36-hole final against Englishman Jack Dyer.
The schoolboy of Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool (Affies) fired 13 birdies en route to a 3&2 victory – marking his sixth trophy finish since competitive golf reopened in September last year after the Covid-19 lockdown.
Dyer, the winner of the stroke play qualifier earlier in the week, eased into an early lead, but a birdie at the eighth saw Maas draw level.
After a run of five birdies in seven holes, the Pretoria Country Club member never looked back. Although Dyer fought back to win the 23rd and 24th holes and bring the game back to all square, birdies on the 25th, 26th, 29th and 30th holes put the young local star three ahead with four to play.
He closed out the match with two hard working pars.
“I knew I had to be at my best because Jack has played so well all week. I made a lot of long putts and I got away with a few wayward drives, but thankfully my short game was strong today. Even when I put myself in trouble of the tee, I managed to find ways on to the greens and the putter did the rest,” said a delighted Maas after the duel.
He remarked that he was especially delighted because he proved to himself and his fans that he can compete with the best on the amateur stage, not only in South Africa, but around the world.
“This is the biggest tournament we play in South Africa and I’m so proud that I have won it. It gives me so much confidence going forward,” he commented.
According to the young upcoming star his main goal this year is to try and win the Freddie Tait Cup at the SA Open as the leading amateur.
“I’ll also be trying to win the SA Stroke Play and the African Amateur next year,” Maas concluded.
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