Over the past weekend, the youngster playing out of the Bloemfontein Golf Club, claimed the rare Western Cape Amateur double by winning both the Western Province Amateur Golf title as well as the Western Province Amateur Stroke Play Championship

South Africa’s top ranked amateur, who is still at school at Grey College, beat the Stroke Play Championship runner-up, Luca Filippi, 3 and 2 in a 36-hole final at the Milnerton Golf Club in Cape Town.

The eleven birdies by the Filippi would have beaten most players, but not Nienaber. The Grade 12 scholar from the City of Roses responded in the most perfect way imaginable.

Nienaber, who turned 18 in the first week of April, carded eight birdies during the final and an eagle on the 8th. The cherry on the cake was when Nienaber recorded a hole-in-one on the 7th during the second 18 holes of the final.

Earlier in the week, Nienaber, carded rounds of 62, 69, 64 and 67 for 18-under par for a three stroke win at Milnerton for Western Province Amateur Stroke Play Championship title.

The accolade is the first in South African amateur golf since Christiaan Bezuidenhout achieved the feat back in 2012. Ironically, Bezuidenhout, who is now at fully fledged professional, earned his professional tour card at Nienaber's home course, the Bloemfontein Golf Club, during the Sunshine Tour’s Q-School.

As the country’s top ranked amateur, Nienaber will lead the charge for the GolfRSA National Squad during their upcoming tour of Britain and Ireland. Therion Nel from Bloemfontein (who won the Northern Cape Open three weeks ago) will also be heading over as part of the GolfRSA National Squad.

Nienaber will be playing in the Irish Amateur at Royal County Down from 17 – 20 May, the Brabazon Trophy from 31 May – 3 June at Frilford Heath, the Links Trophy at St. Andrew's from 8-10 June, and the Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links from 18 – 23 June. Nel will be teeing it up in three of the five events on tour.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport