HARARE - Zimbabwe's sole representative at the Nomads SA Boys Under-17 Stroke Play Championship, Kieran Vincent, put up a courageous fight to finish third at Polokwane Golf Club on Thursday.
Fresh from a Junior Golf World Cup appearance in Japan, Vincent was undaunted by the illustrious cast of SA’s top young golfers with his steady opening 70 setting him on course for a top finish.
Zimbabwe’s second ranked junior golfer followed that up with a 74 before finding his feet with another well worked 70.
Going into the final round, the St John’s College pupil was tied for second place, just a shot behind eventual winner Dylan Naidoo’s three-under-par 213.
However, a bogey on the first hole followed by a double bogey on the sixth and dropped shot on the 18th, derailed Vincent’s chances.
But his birdies on the second, third, ninth and 12th holes ensured he closed his campaign with respectable level-par 72 for a total of two under 286, three shots shy of winner Nadoo.
In the course of 72 holes, Vincent knocked in 13 birdies and dropped 13 shots.
Meanwhile, Central Gauteng junior Dylan Naidoo claimed the Nomads SA Boys Under-17 Stroke Play Championship with a one stroke victory on five under 283.
Reigning Nomads SA Boys Under-15 champion Herman Loubser signed for a final round 68 to finish second, two strokes clear of Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent, who closed with a 72.
Vincent will take heart from his performance as it comes on the back of a disappointing run at the Junior Golf World Cup in Japan where Zimbabwe finished last in the 15-nationa team event.
In that tournament, Vincent finished number 58 on the individual standings with rounds of 76, 77, 79 and 76 to finish on 24 over par 308.
In May, the 16-year-old had finished in the top 10 at the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge in Lusaka after shooting a total of 300 to be tied in sixth position for the individual scores.