History-maker Maas lifts Freddie Tait Cup at Blair Atholl
A young local golfer from Pretoria showed again this past weekend that he is probably South Africa's most promising young player, when he kicked dust in his opponents' eyes at the SA Open in Centurion.
While former double SA Amateur Thriston Lawrence celebrated a wire-to-wire victory in the 112th Investec South African Open Championship, Pretoria’s Christiaan Maas made his own bit of history when he joined an elite group of three as the leading amateur at Blair Atholl on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Pretoria golfer emulated Neville Sundelson (1974) and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (2002) to become only the third amateur to win the Brabazon Trophy and the Freddie Tait Cup in the same calendar year.
After red-hot opening rounds of 65 and 67, Maas had pulled well clear of his four GolfRSA National Squad team-mates, but a rocky start on moving day threatened to derail his campaign.
“I was four-over through the turn, but I managed to rally with a trio of birdies over the last five holes to get myself back to level-par,” said the Pretoria Country Club golfer.
#readytofire
Bogey on the 1st. Bogey on the 9th. And not a birdie in sight.
Just 9 holes left between leading amateur Christiaan Maas & history – the @GolfRSA No 5 turns 8-under with a 3-shot lead…..2022 #InvestecSAOpen | Blair Atholl #golfrsa #itstartshere #feddietaitcup pic.twitter.com/G7uPJ2QCOI
— GolfRSA (@GolfRSA) December 4, 2022
Maas entered the final round as one of two favourites.
Yurav Premlall was looking to make it back-to-back wins after his success at last year’s event at the iconic Gary Player Country Club and Maas knew a solid closing round was required to stay clear of the GolfRSA No one.
By his own admission, he made it a lot harder on himself and his mental resolve was pushed to limits by balky putter on the signature big, firm greens.
However, a closing round of 77 gave Maas a 72-hole total of five-under-par, good enough for a share of 35th, and good enough to edge Premlall by two shots for the leading amateur honour.
“I am happy to be the Freddie Tait Cup winner, and I’m really proud to have won both such prestigious titles in the same year. To join Charl on such an exclusive list is a tremendous honour,” said Maas.
Congratulations Christiaan Maas!
An impressive campaign by the @GolfRSA National Squad player to claim the leading amateur honour in the 2022 #InvestecSAOpen & become only the 3rd amateur in SA golfing history to win the #BrabazonTrophy 🏆& #FreddieTaitCup 🏆 in the same year!! pic.twitter.com/CHfrp71LnW— GolfRSA (@GolfRSA) December 4, 2022
The Texas University freshman is always extraordinarily hard on himself, and despite hugging the silverware, Sunday was no exception.
“I played great golf for two and a half rounds. Today really wasn’t pretty; I thought for sure through 13 holes that I’d lost my chance to win, but then someone told me on the 16th that I was still two shots ahead on five-under. I managed to somehow par the last two holes,” he remarked.
He believes he could have played a lot better.
“I think I had five three-putts today, including the 18th. The golf was terrible, and I’m grateful that I still won the Freddie Tait Cup. I’m happy with where my game is headed, but I need to spend some serious time with the putter before the Alfred Dunhill Championship starts next week,” Maas commented.
Schwartzel, who finished in a share of ninth this week, was full of praise for the young prodigy whose feat here matched his own achieved over two decades ago.
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