Fabrizio de Abreu became one of the youngest winners, aged just 13, of a Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series title when he shot a 2-under round at Wingate Park on Sunday 1 March 2020.

In a closely contested affair Fabrizio, who lives at Woodhill Golf Estate, birdied the final hole to win by a single shot over four players Nico Booyens, Luka Stanisavljevic, Stefano Marchetti and Tiaan Diedericks.

Fabrizio, who attends the Hatfield Christiaan School, did not know he needed to birdie the final hole to win. “I was not aware of the scores, but just told myself to keep focused because I knew I was in a good position,” he said.

“I hit a great drive down the middle of the fairway on 18, leaving 230m to the green. My 3-wood stopped about 3m from the hole and I two putted for birdie. When I walked off the green my friends came and congratulated me, and then I knew I’d won.”

By winning at Wingate Park, Fabrizio qualifies for the regional finals of the #BridgeJuniorSeries, where the prize is an all-expenses paid trip to the North and South Junior Championship at Pinehurst, North Carolina in July 2020.

“The opportunity to compete at Pinehurst was a definitely a motivating factor for entering the Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series tournament, and I can’t wait for the regional finals,” said Fabrizio.

Introduced to the game by an uncle when he was 5, Fabrizio was a natural and played his first competitive golf by the time he turned 8 and played in the US Kids Golf World Championship aged 11.

Coached by Llewelyn Van Leeuwen at TuksGolf, Fabrizio’s goals for the year include being selected for the GolfRSA team to play at the International Under-16 Championship in Italy. In the long term he aims to turn professional.

“Fabrizio is an exceptional young golfer and we look forward to hosting this rising star at the regional finals,” said Paul Stewart, Chief Executive at Bridge Fund Managers.

The Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series launched in 2017, is managed by the SA Golf Development Board and endorsed by GolfRSA. Open to boys and girls in the U13 and U19 divisions, it is played across 18 tournaments at leading courses countrywide.

Visit juniorseries.bridgefm.co.za for the full schedule and entry mechanism, or contact Peter Little of the SAGDB on littlegolfers2@gmail.com.

Media Contacts:Paul Stewart, Chief Executive Officer – 021 4920210. paul.stewart@bridgefm.co.za