“I don’t even have the words to describe how happy I am about this victory,” said the 18-year-old Tshwane amateur after a final round six-under-par 66 and a one stroke victory on 14 under 202.
“I entered the tournament because it was here at my home course and I wanted to get the rust off before the Free State Open this weekend.
“I never, in a million years, expected to be in the leading group or to win. It was such an incredible experience to play with all the pros and I am going to Maccauvlei with a lot of confidence now, because I really had to fight for this victory.”
Conradie played himself into the final group in his first start on the country’s premier development Tour with rounds of 69 and 67.
He was one off the pace at the start of the round, but burst out of the gates with a birdie to level the score.
“I pulled one stroke clear with a birdie at the fourth, but then the nerves caught up with me,” he said.
“I pushed my tee shot at the fifth right and I found my ball between the trees. I hit the escape shot too hard and the ball landed well right of the green. I couldn’t up-and-down to save par, so I had a little talk to myself walking to the sixth tee.
“I just told myself to calm down and to stick to my game plan. I got overexcited and messed up, but I was able to focus and get through the next three holes in pars. When I made birdie at nine, I felt in control of my game. That gave me a little boost going down the back nine.”
Conradie reeled in three birdies on the trot from 11 and reached the final hole tied with Strydom on 13 under and one shot clear of Kruger.
“I hit my tee shot perfectly and it was the first time this week I got it down the fairway. That’s when I knew I could win,” he said.
“I had 185 meters to the pin and I hit a great seven-iron to four feet and made the putt for birdie. I was totally calm playing 18. I’m really pleased that I stayed with Pieter and Tristen all day and I didn’t fold under the pressure.
“This was the first time I played with Tristen and it was an amazing experience for me. He hits the ball so well and it was great to watch him up close. I hope that I keep my game at this level. It would be great to win a few amateur events so I can also play my way into the National Squad.”
Final result
All competitors RSA unless otherwise specified and amateurs are indicated as (AMA)
202 - Estiaan Conradie (AMA) 69 67 66
203 - Pieter Kruger 67 68 68, Tristen Strydom (AMA) 68 67 68
206 - MJ Daffue 70 68 68, CJ du Plessis 69 68 69
208 - Tyrone Ryan 71 68 69
209 - Jaco Prinsloo 71 71 67, Ockert Strydom 72 66 71, Eddie Taylor 70 68 71
210 - Ruan Conradie (AMA) 71 70 69, Teaghan Gauche 73 65 72
211 - Sean Bradley (AMA) 70 72 69, NJ Arnoldi 71 70 70, Toby Tree (ENG) 71 69 71, Arthur Horne (SWA) 70 69 72, Hennie Du Plessis 69 70 72
213 - Juan Langeveld 69 70 74, Eric Nel (AMA) 70 68 75
214 - Wynand Dingle 73 72 69, Thabang Simon 71 72 71
215 - Matthew Vogel 71 74 70, Coert Groenewald 74 69 72, Dayne Moore (ZAM) 72 71 72
216 - Damian Naicker 72 72 72
217 - Conway Kunneke 71 74 72, Gary Daoust (AMA) 69 73 75
218 - Duane Keun 75 73 70
219 - Ruan Korb (AMA) 72 74 73, Jonathan Waschefort 72 73 74, Teboho Sefatsa 72 75 72, Matthew Adams (AMA) 73 75 71, Jeff Hopkins (IRE) 69 70 80
220 - Matthew Spacey 74 72 74, Louis Taylor 76 70 74, Callum Mowat 73 75 72
221 - Wayne Stroebel 73 73 75, Divan Marais (AMA) 71 76 74, Stephan Erasmus (AMA) 71 77 73, Clinton Cheia 73 76 72, Pieter Cooper (AMA) 72 67 82, Paul De Beer 73 75 73
222 - Christo Hattingh 76 68 78, Joubert Van Eeden 75 72 75, Romano Saincic 74 73 75, Simon Kruger 75 73 74, Stephan De Beer 71 78 73
223 - Russel Franz 75 71 77, Steven Le Roux (AMA) 80 70 73, Ruan Huysamen (NAM) 75 76 72
224 - Werner Van Niekerk 77 71 76, Langley Perrins 76 73 75
225 - Christiaan Pretorius 72 73 80
226 - Michael Kok (AMA) 71 74 81, Calvin Caldeira 72 74 80, Fanie Wolmarans (AMA) 76 73 77, CJ Levey 75 74 77
227 - Driekus Gous (AMA) 76 72 79, Keegan Steyn (AMA) 76 73 78, Juan Pierre Cooper (AMA) 78 72 77
229 - Reynhard Reynecke (AMA) 76 72 81, Michael Jooste (AMA) 77 74 78
230 - Thabi Ngcobo (AMA) 80 68 82, Walter Behr (AMA) 75 76 79
231 - Yngve Nilsson (SWE) 77 73 81
DSQ - Terence Boardman 71 77 DSQ
ARTICLE: LALI STANDER.
