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Sourced from Golf RSA

17-year-old Christiaan Maas continued his remarkable rise when he lifted the men’s title on Friday.

In the men’s event, Maas made good on his promise of playing aggressive golf in his 36-hole final against Englishman Jack Dyer.

The Pretoria golfer fired 13 birdies en route to a 3&2 victory – marking his sixth trophy finish  since competitive golf reopened in September last year after the Covid-19 lockdown.

Dyer, the winner of the stroke play qualifier earlier in the week, eased into an early lead, but a birdie at the eighth saw Maas draw level.

After a run of five birdies in seven holes, the Pretoria Country Club member never looked back. Although Dyer fought back to win the 23rd and 24th holes and bring the game back to all square, birdies on the 25th, 26th, 29th and 30th holes put the young South African three ahead with four to play.

He closed out the match with two hard working pars.

“I knew I had to be at my best because Jack has played so well all week,” said Maas. “I made a lot of long putts and I got away with a few wayward drives, but thankfully my short game was strong today. Even when I put myself in trouble of the tee, I managed to find ways on to the greens and the putter did the rest.

“I’m delighted because I proved that I can compete with the best on the amateur stage, not only in South Africa, but around the world. This is the biggest tournament we play in South Africa and I’m so proud that I have won it. It gives me so much confidence going forward.”

Maas said he drew inspiration from fellow GolfRSA National Squad members Casey Jarvis, who won the double last year, and Martin Vorster, the 2021 SA Stroke Play champion.

Having shown himself to be one of the hottest prospects in South African golf, Maas has a few goals of his own left to tick off.

“My main goal this year is to try and win the Freddie Tait Cup at the SA Open as the leading amateur, like Casey did last year. I’ll also be trying to win the SA Stroke Play and the African Amateur next year.

2021 SA Amateur champion Christiaan Maas; credit Ernest Blignault