Louis Loubser Jnr, a 17-year-old member of Durbanville GC, secured the Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series title at Strand GC on Sunday 15 September 2019.
A Grade 11 pupil at The Golf School of Excellence in Tygervalley where he is coached by Paul McKenzie, Louis birdied the 15th and the 16th holes to end the day 2 under par and a single shot ahead of Luke Pienaar, with Jere Brits and Travis Procter a further shot back. Runner up Luke played excellent golf in a round which included 6 birdies.
The win sees Louis qualify for the South Final of the Bridge Junior Series which will be played at King David Mowbray GC in April 2020, where he will compete against an elite field for the chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to the Junior North and South Championship at Pinehurst, USA in July 2020.
The opportunity to play at Pinehurst is a big motivator for entering the Bridge Junior Series tournaments, and Louis hopes to emulate Tyran Snyders, who in July 2019 became the first South African to win the championship at Pinehurst.
“Junior golfers in the Western Cape have competed against Tyran many times, so his win at Pinehurst is inspiring because it tells us we are capable of performing at international tournaments,” said Louis, whose other big goal for the year is to earn a spot in the junior inter-provincial team (IPT).
“I enjoy the Bridge Junior Series tournaments and will play in a few more this year even though I have already qualified for the South Finals. Winning in Strand means I can play pressure free.”
Louis said the key to his win was putting the ball in play off the tee on a day of typically blustery winds at Strand. “I didn’t have my best game today but was able to grind it out and birdies on the 15thand 16thgot me back into the tournament,” said Louis, whose long-term aim is to earn a scholarship to play college golf in the USA.
The juniorseries.bridgefm.co.za launched in July 2017, is endorsed by GolfRSA and managed by the SA Golf Development Board. Open to boys and girls in the U13 and U19 divisions, the Series is played across 18 tournaments hosted by leading courses countrywide and attracted over 1500 entries in Season 2. The 18 tournament winners contest 36-hole regional finals in April 2020 with the two winners jetting off to Pinehurst.
“Louis is now a multiple winner in the Bridge Junior Series and has an really good chance of winning that sought after spot at Pinehurst,” says Paul Stewart, Chief Executive at Bridge Fund Managers.
Visit juniorseries.bridgefm.co.za for the full schedule and entry mechanism, or contact Peter Little of the SAGDB on littlegolfers2@gmail.com.
Media Contact: Paul Stewart, Chief Executive Officer – 021 4920210. paul.stewart@bridgefm.co.za
