Golfer Steyn posts season best finish

Sport
SOUTH Africa-based Zimbabwean professional golfer Sheldon Steyn recorded a season-best seventh place finish during the Sunshine Big Easy Tour tournament at the world renowned Glendower Golf Club in South Africa on Wednesday.

SOUTH Africa-based Zimbabwean professional golfer Sheldon Steyn recorded a season-best seventh place finish during the Sunshine Big Easy Tour tournament at the world renowned Glendower Golf Club in South Africa on Wednesday.

DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER

Steyn, who is also a teaching professional at the prestigious Gary Player School of Champions run by South African golf legend Gary Player, is one of the most promising Zimbabwean golfers plying their trade in South Africa.

After a disastrous nine-over par 81 in the first round, Steyn turned his fortunes around as he produced an impressive five-under-par round of 67 in the second round — by far the best round in the field during the tournament.

The former Lomagundi College schoolboy’s round included seven birdies against two bogeys including four consecutive birdies from the 10th to the 13th.

Steyn’s second round resurgence saw him finishing with a 36-hole total of four-over par 148 and in a five-way tie for seventh position.

South African Tyrone Ryan was the only player with a sub-par total at the close with a total of two-under par 142 for a well-deserved win. Steyn’s brilliant final round should give him a lot of confidence as the tough layout at Glendower Golf Club is widely acknowledged as a true test of the game.

Glendower is the host venue for the prestigious South African Open Championship.

In an interview with our sister NewsDay Sport Steyn, who earned his Sunshine Tour card early this year at the 2014 Sunshine Tour Qualifying School said he was unlucky not to sign for a better score during the first round.

“I played well the first day on the front nine was level par through 10 and suddenly I dropped nine shots in six holes.

“I did not give up I knew the course was playing tough and I just had to be positive in the second round and put a score together,” he said.

“I got off to a good start and was five under through six holes and I managed to maintain the momentum on the stretch where I messed up on round one and played those holes level par, but the putter saved me in the second round which is a big confidence boost as I have been very hot and cold this year.

So it was a big mental boost finishing in the top 10 after being 60th after round one. So it pays off to never give up,” he said.

Greg Bentley was the second best placed Zimbabwean in the field after finishing in a tie for position 20 while Christian Mbanga, who recently turned professional, was tied for 73rd position.