Central Gauteng’s Marco Steyn joined an illustrious list of champions including Charl Schwartzel, Brandon Stone and Haydn Porteous when he won the Oxigen Prince’s Grant National Amateur Invitational on Wednesday.
Steyn won by four strokes on a tournament total of 286 and with a final round of 70.
“It feels great to join that list of winners. Hopefully I can, follow in their footsteps and join them on the pro circuit one day. I’ve just got to keep working hard and chase my dream,” Steyn said.
The win ended a lengthy title drought for Steyn, the country’s sixth-ranked amateur, and comes shortly before he leaves to take up a golf scholarship at the University of Wake Forest in North Carolina.
“I’ve got one more tournament left in South Africa and then I’m off to America. Any title is great, but this one is pretty special. It’s been over a year since my last win. I came close a few times so it’s great to win again.”
Steyn was tied for the lead with KwaZulu-Natal’s Luke Mayo going into the final round. But on another sublime day on the North Coast, Steyn produced a composed final round of two under par as Mayo struggled to a 74 to take second place on 290.
“I didn’t change my gameplan and just stuck to what I was doing all week – finding fairways and greens and staying out of trouble,” said Steyn.
“It’s key on this golf course to just keep yourself in play, and I did that all week. This was my first time playing Prince’s Grant and it is a great challenge, especially when the wind blows. But I loved it and certainly want to come back.”
FINAL LEADERBOARD (TOP 20)
286 Marco Steyn 72 71 73 70
290 Luke Mayo 74 68 74 74
295 Martin Vorster 78 72 76 69
297 Gregory Mckay 72 75 78 72
300 Keegan Mclachlan 82 72 76 70; Andrew Carlsson 73 71 83 73; Darin de Smidt 72 74 74 80; Dylan Kok 73 76 73 78
301 Aneurin Gounden 78 74 78 71; Andre van Heerden 73 75 77 76; David Nortje 73 73 81 74
303 Dave Watson 80 74 72 77; Therion Nel 76 72 73 82
304 Dean Martin 72 78 76 78; Allan Lones 78 75 74 77
305 Jayden Schaper 73 80 79 73; Otto van Buynder 78 72 74 81
307 Nicholaus Frade 81 75 76 75
309 Richard Joubert 79 77 77 76; Philip Kruse 77 74 82 76
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