JG Claassen enjoys maiden victory of Namibia PGA Championship – Sunshine Tour News
The Sunshine Tour event of the MTC Namibia Professional Golfer’s Association Championship concluded yesterday at the par-71, Windhoek Country Club in Namibia. It was the youngster, JG Claassen who kept his cool and carded a brilliant final round to lift
his maiden career victory.
The local lad Claassen carded a superb final round score of six-under par, 65 for the victory, as he was flawless with his game and looked confident with his putting and hitting. His score card clearly depicts that there were no blemishes for the day.
The 20-year-old Claasen had six birdies and no drop shot for the day, as he looked in great shape with his crisp iron shots and smooth putting. He finished the four day tournament with an aggregate score of sixteen-under par, 268. The local hero posted under-par
rounds on all four days which gave him the win. Claassen won this championship by a margin of just one stroke over his compatriot Christiaan Basson.
After winning the trophy, Claassen said, “It’s been a bit of struggle, but this more than makes up for the tough times I’ve had this year. Christiaan had a putt for birdie on 16th where he could have faced me in a playoff but he missed the putt
and I went on to make my par.”
Basson finished his final round with a moderate score of three-under par, 68. His score card showed four birdies and a single bogey, as he had to drop a shot early in the day at the tough par-4, 2nd where he hit an extra club which went over the
green. Basson had to be content with a bogey. He had a four round aggregate score of fifteen-under par, 269 and just a single stroke behind the winner.
Christiaan had a chance for a playoff on the 16th hole, where he was lying for a birdie, but his putt barely missed the hole and went past it.
Josh Cunliffe finished at the third spot, as he had a final round score of four-under par, 67. Cunliffe’s score card showed five birdies and a single bogey for the final day. His lone bogey came on the long par-4, 4th where he completely missed
the fairway off the tee. Josh had a total aggregate score of thirteen-under par, 271 and was two behind the winner.
Ryan Tipping of the same club managed to finish the final day with a score of two-under par. He looked a bit nervous before the final round commenced. Tipping made three birdies and a single bogey, as he did not have a great finish as he made a bogey on
the finishing par-4, 18th. The total aggregate score of Ryan after four days was eleven-under par, 273 and five behind the champion.
Claassen was happy after his win and is confident of improving his win record in the tournaments to come.
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