Jaydon Galant and Taahir Mallick – big winners at WP Junior Boys Champs
13th July – The WP Junior Boys Championship Qualification took place at Somerset West Golf Club on the 13th of July. The players were greeted with great golfing weather for both the Strokeplay qualification as well as the Matchplay component of this prestigious tournament.
Compliments to Somerset West GC for presenting the players with a course that had greens of high-quality championship standard.
This tournament brings together the most talented junior golfers in the Western Province.
The Strokeplay component, on the Thursday, was keenly contested with Jaydon Galant (KD Mowbray) scorching around the course in the morning in a superb 67. He was followed by Josh Daniels (Durbanville) and Sebastian Dorward (KD Mowbray) three shots adrift after rounds of 70.
A disastrous start to Jaydon Galant’s afternoon round, a drop at the 10th, then followed a triple drop 8 at the par 5 12th, saw his handsome morning lead all but disappear but a 7-birdie burst over the rest of the round saw him come home in 69 – an excellent return of 8 under par – 67 & 69.
Milnerton Golf Club’s Jack Buchanan (ranked number 3 junior in the country) finished strongly posting a final round 67, after the morning round of level par 72 – the 67 included 7 birdies and 2 bogeys.
Josh Daniels (Durbanville), winner of the recent Somerset West Junior Championship, finished 3rd after steady rounds of 72 & 70, followed by Taahir Mallick (Rondebosch), winner of the Kuils River Junior Championship earlier in the year, recording rounds of 74 & 72.
Top 8 qualifying scores to proceed to the Matchplay stages were –
- Jaydon Galant (KD Mowbray) 67 69=136
- Jack Buchanan (Milnerton) 72 67=139
- Josh Daniels (Durbanville) 70 72=142
- Taahir Mallick (Rondebosch) 74 72=146
- Sebastian Dorward (KD Mowbray) 70 76=146
- Bjorn Nord (Milnerton) 74 73=147
- Henru Walters (Durbanville) 74 74=148
- Francois Steyn (Atlantic Beach Links) 77 72=149
The other division results were – Braam Smit (Durbanville) in the B division with an 82, Senzo Dingaan (Steenberg) 35 points in the C division and Keaton Filander (Strand) 76 gross in the Under 13s.
14th & 15th July – The matchplay component followed thereafter for the next two days. The same brilliant winter weather, that prevailed during the strokeplay, continued for the duration of the matchplay.
The top 16 qualifiers from the A division Strokeplay played in the Matchplay stages – the top 8 for the Championship Division whilst the next 8 played in the Plate Division.
The A division Plate Final saw two 16-year-olds compete against each other – Nicholas Thompson (Westlake) and Boston Franks (Steenberg). After the first 9 holes Boston Franks led 1 up, but a decisive 12-meter birdie putt by Nicholas at the 13th was a turning point. Nicholas finally winning 1up. Along the way Nicholas defeated Heinrich Haasbroek 4&2 and Tom Christensen 3&1. Boston beat Adam Johnston 4&3 and Conrick Lucas at the 19th hole.
The A division Championship final was played between Taahir Mallick and Josh Daniels. On the way to the final Taahir beat Sebastian Dorward 4 &3 as well as Francois Steyn 2&1. Josh progressed by beating Bjorn Nord 5&4 followed by a tense 19th hole win against Jack Buchanan.
The Championship final saw Josh Daniels lead by 1 hole after the first 9 holes. Taahir fought back to level after 10 holes. A decisive 6 metre putt at the 14th hole by Taahir enabled him to lead for the first time. Although Josh displayed a never-say-die attitude Taahir wrapped it up with a magnificent 2nd at the final hole. A good 2up win by Taahir Mallick to be crowned WP Junior Golf Matchplay champion for 2023.
In the B division, Oliver Malyon beat Devan Vercuiel at the 19th hole while the C division was won by Senzo Dingaan – beating Sergio Dowrie 2&1. The U13 division saw Luke Jacobs beat Codi Ruiters 2up.
A great exhibition of junior golf over 3 days.
Results (18)WP Junior Champs 2023
Results (18A)B Division Results
Results (18A)C Division Results
Results (18A)Championship Division Results
Results (18A)Plate Division Results
Results (18A)U13A Division Results
Report by Peter Little
SOCIAL MEDIA