One of the country’s top golf prospects Keegan Shutt’s late charge was not enough to hand the second edition of the Africa Amateur Championship after he finished second, two shots behind the champions from South African Bryan Newman at Leopard Creek, Mpumalanga yesterday.
Shutt, who came into the tournament with the target of winning the event or at least getting a top five finish, shot a final round 69 to finish on 6 – under par for the tournament.
The 18-year-old golfer will rue his performances on the first days where he shot 74 and 73 before bouncing back with a magnificent 6 – under par 66 in the third round.
Newman enjoyed a seven stroke lead over Shutt on 10 – over par as the overnight leader but struggled to get going in the final round but with golfers behind him suffering the same fate save for Shutt his 2 – over par 74 yesterday was enough to help him cling on to the lead.
Shutt was two shots to the good by the 7th tee but a costly triple-bogey on the par-3 checked his momentum. However, he kept up the chase with four birdies on the back nine but he had left himself with too much to do.
“A little bit of disappointment. I don't think I'm going to forget that triple on the 7th for a while. I think that's where I lost today. I'm very happy the way I fought back these last two days. I think I played very good golf. Apart from 7, I played really well the last two days and you never know. It could have gone another way if I had made par or even bogey. Anyways, it's golf, it happens,” Shutt said after the tournament.
“Well done to Bryan. I tried to make a late charge on him. I came in with some birdies but he managed to hold it together and he finished strong. Really well done to him,” he said.
Finishing second means that Shutt misses out on exemption into The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush as well as places in The Amateur Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, The Investec South African Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.
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Another Zimbabwean Tanaka Chatora who was the first round leader struggled to replicate his performance on the first day and could only finish in a tie for 16th on 8 – over after rounds of 65, 75 77 and 70.
Two other local golfers made the cut with Michael Wallace settling for 28th place while Darlington Chikanyambidze tied for 29th.
Elton Zulu, Vincent Chidambazina, Shepard Chiwaya and kelvin Muchenje failed to make the cut.
In the Africa Aamatuer Women’s Invitational which concluded on Friday Danielle Bekker and Miriam Masiya finished in the top 10 on the leaderboard.
Bekker grossed 239 to finish in ninth place while Masiya managed 240 in three rounds to complete the top 10.
