By Zim Sport Live Writer
Zimbabwe’s Keegan Shutt carded a closing three-under par 69 at Leopard Creek to seal a solo second finish at the African Amateur Championship on Saturday.
Shutt was unlucky not to go all the way in the prestigious continental competition as he led by two shots by after six holes in the final round before a costly triple-bogey on the par-3 seventh hole checked his momentum.
The gifted Royal Harare Golf Club-based golfer kept up the chase with four birdies on the back nine but he had left himself with too much to do and his six-under-par total left him in second place.
A disappointed Shutt said, “A little bit of disappointment. I don’t think I’m going to forget that triple on the 7th for a while. I think that’s where I lost today. I’m very happy the way I fought back these last two days. I think I played very good golf. Apart from 7, I played really well the last two days and you never know. It could have gone another way if I had made par or even bogey. Anyways, it’s golf, it happens.
“Well done to Bryan. I tried to make a late charge on him. I came in with some birdies but he managed to hold it together and he finished strong. Really well done to him.”
Shutt finished two shots behind Bryan Newman of South Africa, who won the second edition of Africa Amateur Championship with an eight-under-par total of 280.
The victory earned Newman exemption into The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush as well as places in The Amateur Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, The Investec South African Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.
Newman said, “It feels really amazing. It’s so special. To do it here at Leopard Creek makes it even more special.
“I definitely felt nervous down the last but I was just trying to make a lot of pars out there, which I did. I made a couple of mistakes down the stretch but luckily I had enough of a cushion.
“(On being exempt for The Open) Yeah, it’s really exciting. I can’t wait and I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s just such a privilege playing here at Leopard Creek, definitely the best course in South Africa, maybe in Africa as well, but it’s also special playing with all the other players around.”