Justin Turner wins Western Province Amateur
CAPE TOWN, S. Africa (April 28, 2012) Justin Turner became the first Western Province player to complete the 'double' when he added the Amateur title to the stroke play in captured on Wednesday, in a final that what it lacked in quality sure made up for in drama.
The match started out in rain with both players battling to hit quality shots. De Villiers took a 2up lead early but when Turner birdied 9,12 and 13 it looked he was going to get on top. The 17th and 18th were exchanged to leave Turner 1up at lunch.
By the time they reached the 27th the game was back to square and Turner only managed to hold on courtesy of clutch putts on 6, 8 and 9.
The final nine saw a couple of woeful chips from Turner-a trait of his play all day-and De Villiers led by two holes with four to play. On the 33rd (15th) Turner had 2 putts to win the hole but rushed his approach putt past and then pushed the return. On the 34th, De Villiers hit a poor iron shot into the bunker and lost the hole to a par. On the 35th, Turner blocked his drive and after a very fortunate bounce played a great recovery but missed the birdie putt to stay one down. The final hole was playing very tough into the North Wester. Both hit solid drives and De Villiers playing first made the questionable decision to play for the green with a driver. He pulled it into the water-this allowed Turner to win the hole with a bogey 5.
So onto extra holes and after the 37th and 38th were halved with it came down to the 39th (3rd). Turner pushed his tee shot into the hazard right. He was forced to take a penalty drop and it looked like the title was De Villiers's who had a 9 iron into the green-but the moment proved too great as he pushed his short iron into the water. Turner played a good third and two putted for a drop and the title.
The victory meant Turner was the 4th player to complete the double and the first from WP. He is also the first person in 30 years to have his name appear twice on the trophy since Bernard Babus in the mid 1980s
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Western Province Amateur
72 holes of stroke play qualifying determine 32
players for match play.
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