South Africa’s Bryan Newman captured the R&A Africa Amateur Championship in fine style, relying on a conservative approach to hold off the challenge of Zimbabwe’s Keegan Shutt, to emerge victorious at Leopard Creek.
Newman also had to deal with high temperatures and fast greens, but the 17-year-old overcame every obstacle to produce a closing 74 to claim a two-shot win and with it, a raft of exemptions.
Not only will the North West junior tee it up in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush and the 130th Amateur Championship, but he also earned spots in the Sunshine Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, the Investec South African Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.
“I was pretty nervous on the last few holes coming down the stretch,” he said. “It was really tough out there. It was really hot, and it was a bit of a mental battle too, but I managed it well.
“All those things that come with winning this mean so much. It’s such a privilege to be able to get those invitations, and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a little difficult to take it all in at this stage.”
Battling to take it in reflected the battle he had out on the course after he had an early bogey with a five on the par-four third, where a tough green seldom gives up shots easily. “Look, I knew it was going to be a difficult job out there,” said Newman, “but I also knew I could play conservatively, play to not make bogeys. With a five-stroke lead after the third round, the rest of the guys had to come and get me.
“So, I spent my day hitting the fairways, trying to hit the middle of the green, taking my two putts and the heading for the next hole. Even on the par-fives, I didn’t take any chances, unless I got a good drive out there. On 13, I had eight-iron in, and I could curve it around the water in the front to the back right pin position.”
That was one of three birdies Newman made after he had picked up shots on the sixth and the 10th but he also made five bogeys. In the end, his five-stroke margin after 54 holes was cut to two as Shutt finished best of all with a bogey-free back nine giving him a three-under-par 69.
“I looked at a leaderboard on 16,” said Newman, “and I saw that he had finished well. But I also knew I had enough shots in the tank. Even though I made bogeys on 16 and 17, I knew I had some shots in hand.
“That didn’t stop me being nervous, though. I definitely felt nervous down the last. I laid up, and didn’t even think of taking on the flag. I just hit it to the middle of the green, and knew I had three putts from there for the win.”
Second-round leader Roelof Craig closed with a three-over 75 to finish third on two-under-par, six behind Newman.
Reigning SA Amateur champion Charl Barnard was fourth on one-under after he closed with a one-over 73, while Zambia’s Michael Chuma, like Shutt, closed with a three-under 69 to climb into a share of fifth on one-over with Johndre Ludick, who had a final round of 77.
For Newman, it’s all about a countdown to the Open now. “I can’t wait,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who I play with, because I can learn from all of them. It will be special, just like it was special here playing on perhaps the best course in Africa with all those other players around me.”