PEARL VALLEY WIN FOR BLAAUW

It all happened on the 72^nd hole at the Pearl Valley Golf Estate that the SA Amateur Stroke Play title was literally handed to Jacques Blaauw, beating Leon-Brink Knoll by just one shot.

Blaauw is completely speechless with this achievement, and is very much excited to have his name appear on the winner’s trophy next to the lakes of Richard Sterne, Trevor and Immelman, and Ernie Els.

Blaauw finished the tournament on a four-round total of 4-over-par 292, with Knoll in second position, and Victor Dubuisson following closely behind in third position with a final round 5-over-par 77 for 294.

Having attended university in the United States in 2007, Blaauw said that it was really his knowledge of the local conditions which handed him this title. "It helped me to stay calm and a lot of friends came to watch me so I'm very grateful," Blaauw said.

In the fourth position on 12-over-par 300, was European champion Benjamin Herbert, with Le Riche Ehlers, Dylan Fritelli, Stephen Swanepoel, and Steven Ferreira, tying for fifth with 16-over-par 304.