PORT ALFRED, August 1 – Golf RSA National Squad player Dylan Naidoo rocketed to fourth in the Open Amateur rankings following a two stroke victory in the Border Stroke Play Championship at the Fish River Sun Country Club on Sunday.

The 18-year-old from Modderfontein reeled in four birdies from the second hole in the first round and another gain at nine saw him lead the field at the turn.

Dylan Naidoo. Photo: Ernest Blignault.

However, a costly eight at the par five 12th put paid to his challenge and he closed with a 70 to finish two shots off the pace from Western Province junior Luca Filippi.

Naidoo got off to a fast start in the second round with back-to-back birdies and a run of 16 pars saw the HPC Golf Academies player sign for a second 70.

In the final round, the Central Gauteng golfer offset a lone bogey with four birdies to close with a four under 68 and sealed his victory on eight-under-par 208.

Filippi, who triumphed in the St Francis Links Nomads National Order of Merit event in June, followed an opening 68 with successive rounds of 71 to finish in second on six under 210, four strokes ahead of Ekurhuleni’s Kyle McClatchie.

Naidoo won the Dr Bam Tournament on the junior national circuit in January and reached the final of the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship in March.

In May, he became the first amateur to triumph on the Big Easy Tour.

The Border victory came on the heels of a tie for 51st in the 110th Southern Amateur Championship at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club in South Carolina and marks his first success on the South African Amateur Association Open Amateur circuit this season.

Final Results (Top 10)
208 (-8) Dylan Naidoo (Modderfontein GC) 70 70 68
210 (-6) Luca Filippi (Milnerton GC) 68 71 71
214 (-2) Kyle McClatchie (Serengeti GWE) 74 72 68
215 (-1) Franklin Manchest (George GC) 73 72 70
218 (+2) Jovan Rebula (George GC) 75 71 72
218 (+2) Richard Joubert (Silver Lakes CC) 72 72 74
219 (+3) Andre Nel (Kingswood GE) 74 73 72
220 (+4) David Mcintyre (Eagle Canyon) 72 74 74
220 (+4) Clayton Mansfield (Durban CC) 76 76 68
221 (+5) Malcolm Mitchell (Kloof CC) 74 73 74
221 (+5) Neswill Croy (Stellenbosch GC) 75 73 73

Full results available HERE 

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.
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