The 16-year-old put the South African golfing fraternity on alert in March when he chased former number one ranked Wilco Nienaber all the way to the 36th hole in the South African Amateur Match Play final in March.
He impressed with a top 14 finish in the East of Ireland Open Amateur at County Louth and again when he reached the match play stage in The Amateur Championship at Portmarnock in June, but never has the GolfRSA National Squad member been more impressive than over 54 holes at the Jack Nicklaus signature course.
Duminy accelerated through the field with a stunning seven-under-par 65 on day one – improving the 13-year amateur course record by one shot and setting a new junior course record.
The Louis Oosthuizen Junior Golf Academy member kept his five-shot overnight lead intact with a level par 72 in the second round and capped off the week with a final-round two-under 70 for a truly magnificent wire-to-wire victory on nine-under 207.
Duminy credited the recent GolfRSA National Squad Tour to Ireland and Scotland for his good run of form.
“I’m really so pleased with this win and with the way I managed my game this week,” he said. “My ball-striking was great and the putter was hot, but mostly, it was course management that got me to the winner’s circle.
“We played on top-ranked courses and I learned a lot from watching the Brits. You can’t put a price on what I learned from competing over there. The course was a lot tighter and the wind didn’t blow half as much as what we had to face in Ireland and Scotland. It definitely helped me here. I played the course far more strategically this week than I’ve ever played this course before.”
A steady front nine, highlighted by a trio of birdies, kept him clear of the chasing pack, led by Dimension Data Junior Open champion Christiaan Maas.
“I had quite a big lead, so I knew if I could make a few birdies and keep my card clean, I could pull it through,” Duminy said. “I didn’t need to do anything fancy. I birdied two, five and six, but I had a soft bogey after I hit my drive short of the bunker at the par-three (7th) and two-putted.”
Duminy started the homeward loop with a seven-shot lead. He voided a drop at the par-five 13th with a huge birdie putt at 14, and boxed a 12-footer at the 17th to go eight shots clear on 10-under.
“I had 150 metres flag after a decent drive the par-five (13th), but I misjudged the wind and hit my 4-iron into the water.
“At 15, I drove it a bit too far right and I couldn’t see the flag. I hit a knock-down sand-wedge from 117 metres in. The ball pitched into the hill and sat down. I had 25 feet to the hole and I aimed it a foot left and rolled it in.”
His tee shot into the par-three 17th pitched 12 feet from the hole and he made the birdie putt to move to 10-under.
“On 18, my second pitched short of the green. I chipped it, trying to use the slope at the back of the green, but it didn’t quite come off and I left myself with a 10-foot downhill putt. I barely touched the ball, and it ran straight past the hole. It wasn’t great finishing with a bogey, but I’ll take it.”
Just before he started the final round, Duminy received news that set him up for a great day.
“I am hoping to make the 12-man team International Team for the Junior Presidents Cup in December and I found out that I’ve moved into 12th place after the amateur golf world rankings were updated on Wednesday,” he said. “Hopefully this win will boost my rankings a bit more.
“It’s still a long way to the cut-off in September, but I am really hoping I will get to represent South Africa in Australia with the other GolfRSA juniors.”
Pretoria Country Club’s Maas returned an even-par 72 to finish in second on five-under, CJ van Wyk from Fancourt carded 73 to take third on two-over and former Sun City Challenge Under-15 champion Jaden Deltel finished a further stroke back in fourth after posting 71.
GolfRSA National Squad duo Yurav Premlall (73) and Nash de Klerk (71) rounded out the top five with South African Golf Development Board member Rori Nkosi (70) from Pecanwood and Pretoria Country Club’s Tobias Jan de Flamingh (74).
207 Jordan Duminy 65 72 70
214 Christiaan Maas 73 69 72
218 C.J van Wyk 68 77 73
219 Jaden Deltel 73 75 71
222 Yurav Premlall 76 73 73; Nash de Klerk 74 77 71; Rorisang Nkosi(Jnr) 73 79 70; Tobias Jan de Flamingh 71 77 74
223 Jonathan Wilsenach 75 73 75; Hannes Strooh 72 78 73; Malan Potgieter 72 78 73; Tom Addy AUS 72 76 75
227 Casey Jarvis 78 75 74; Mitchel Hampson 73 78 76
228 Jordan Jung AUS 78 77 73; Jaime Clive Lewis 73 77 78
229 Eddie Ward AUS 78 74 77; Kayle Wykes 76 71 82; Dylan Melville 71 81 77
230 Herman du Plessis 78 76 76; Amilkar Bhana 76 80 74
231 Brandon Weir 75 82 74; Ian Pienaar AUS 75 76 80
Next week I’ll be reporting back from the OPEN Championship at Royal Portrush
Royal Portrush
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Coming soon – put these in the MUST DO column
Limited to 100 people! You must be present! Yes, I am showing support for the St Francis College as we do for all the area schools with special events and fundraisers. The College has grown to more than 160 learners. The programmes are excellent and there is no doubt that it has been a drawcard for investment here by young families!
The St Francis Links HOTEL by Mantis – SHOW UNITS are under construction
The proposed St Francis Links Hotel by Mantis is being sold as a sectional title scheme. Now, three units are being built as show units to promote sales.
The show unit, comprised of one, two bedroom unit and two, one-bedroom units will be complete for the season.
The Hotel will consist of 60 1 and 2-bedroom suites, modelled after the successful hotel development at Pearl Valley, where the 2nd phase was launched recently. The Clubhouse will be home to reception manned 24/7, the Food and Beverage services, AquaSpa and of course, the home of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course! Pam Golding Properties are handling the sales for the Hotel. Neil Fox is the lead person. Neil Fox neil.fox@pamgolding.co.za Saria Blaauw is assisting and they are dividing their time at The Links
Our events
Ernie and Linda Müller and their Team from Selective Lighting are making Fridays extra special at St Francis Links. Once a month, they host the Selective Lighting/The Fireworks Friday Competition. We shotgun start the players for 9 holes. Starting times are based on the season, 14h30 in the “Cool Season” and 15h30 in the summer months. Be a part of growing the Club and join us for nine and some good times after golf! Please enter in advance for numbers.
ITEC are our sponsors for OPEN Wednesday (2nd Wednesday) with meat and added prizes. Invite your friends to enjoy SA’s best with special rates for golf, snacks after the game and great prizes – Hey, sometimes Curry Night follows – stay or take away!
Monday Roll-up! Pitch up and play (9 holes or 18 Par-3 from 2pm) let’s add you to the What’s app group
All day Saturdays: Morning and afternoon fields – the afternoon field will be booked from 12 noon backwards with emphasis on “ready golf”
Monday Men’s Book Club – 5pm in Jack’s Bar (no reading required)
Ladies’ Tea (and Coffee) – Every Tuesday at 10am on the Veranda
Every Great shot starts (and ends) with a SMILE!
Jordan Duminy’s Course record with 9 birdies!
Santa and the Links TEAM