4 minute read
Wildside TIMES #5
The PGA Championships At The Links
GEORGE COETZEE STEALS THE SHOW!
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George Coetzee came, he played, and he won! We couldn’t have scripted it better. George helped bring the people to St Francis Links and the viewers to television. On top of it all, he added his name to the great PGA Championship trophy for the second time.
“It was an honour and a privilege to play in this tournament,” said Coetzee. “I loved it! I am pleased I could be a good example and play some decent golf simultaneously.”
Casey Jarvis (19-year-old Sunshine Tour rookie and top SA junior player) finished second.
“I’m delighted to have had my best performance so far as a pro at St Francis Links,” said Jarvis. “I have played on many golf courses. However, I am still blown away by the beauty of the surroundings and the condition of the course at St Francis Links. I am incredibly grateful for
the opportunity to have been part of the PGA Championship. I am determined to persevere and commit to keep working hard and perform well at any upcoming events that would follow.”
St Francis Links
The Compleat Golfer write-up… George Coetzee had the experience, composure and skill to finish the job on Sunday as he clinched his second PGA Championship title at St Francis Links. Coetzee had just a one-stroke lead going into the final round. However, a polished four-under-par 68 on Sunday, which included two eagles and almost a third, carried him to 15-under-par and a three-stroke victory in the prestigious R1.2-million tournament. “I was pretty much under pressure all day. I didn’t feel comfortable, and my swing wasn’t 100%,” Coetzee said after claiming his 14th Sunshine Tour title.
Some of those shots were better than good as an eagle on the par-five 3rd hole brought some early pleasure, and he holed out with a sand-wedge for an eagle-two on the par-four 10th hole. In between those highlights, he could also have eagled the 350-yard par-four 5th hole after driving the green, but his putt was narrowly wide.
“We were put on the clock on the 5th, and I didn’t have time to read my putt properly,” Coetzee said with a laugh. “I was really happy with my two eagles after I saw a lot of chances in the third round. But then it was a bit hard to calm down and get back into my rhythm, get my head back into a good space,” he admitted. But back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes put him firmly in control of the tournament, and he parred his way in from the 14th for a comfortable victory in the end.
Rookie Casey Jarvis produced his best Sunshine Tour result, finishing second after a final-round 69. The experienced duo of Hennie Otto and Jake Redman were tied in third place, one stroke behind on 11-under-par, both shooting two-under-par 70s on Sunday.
Stephen Ferreira’s championship ended on a winning note. He aced the par-three 17th hole to win himself a brand spanking new Volkswagen T-Roc courtesy of Dirk Ellis VW.
The SDC Championship Is Coming
This is a DP World Tour event co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour and will take place the week of the 12th to 19th of March at The Links in St Francis Bay. This event will have US$1,5 Million prize money, which is around R26 million at the time of going to print.
