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Maiden win for JJ Senekal

St Francis Bay - JJ Senekal became the third maiden winner on this year’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Tour when he won the final tournament at St Francis Links on Friday.

Senekal beat Titch Moore on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff and following an incredible finish to his round.

The young golfer birdied his final two holes for a 72, including a 25-foot putt for his birdie on the last. Moore bogeyed the final hole, also for a 72, to see them both tied on four under.

Both golfers birdied the tough par-four 18th as the first playoff hole. Playing it again, Moore hit his approach into the left greenside bunker and was faced with an incredibly difficult lie right up against the lip. It took him three shots to get out. Senekal found the green with his approach and two-putted for par and the victory.

“I’ve been dreaming about winning on Tour and now I’ve done it,” said Senekal.

He was surrounded by some of the most experienced professionals on the Sunshine Tour as he went into the final round one stroke off the lead, with Moore, Jean Hugo and Jake Roos all challenging for the title.

And it took a phone call from his father for Senekal to start believing in himself. “The night before the final round my dad phoned me and said, ‘You’re up there for a reason. Don’t stand back for anyone. You’ve got the game. You’ve got everything. Just go for it’.”

Senekal has also taken inspiration from his fellow professionals. “I’ve been inspired by a lot of the guys. I caddied for Justin Harding at the Open Championship this year and that really motivated me a lot. I look up to Justin because he’s quite successful and it’s where I want to be.”

Senekal’s victory comes with the major summer portion of the Sunshine Tour only a few weeks away.

“This win means everything to me. It gives me confidence going into the summer, knowing that I can win and win well.”
 
Final Scores (* won in playoff):

212 - *JJ Senekal 70 70 72, Titch Moore 72 68 72

214 - Lyle Rowe 72 69 73

215 - Charl Coetzee 76 67 72, Jean Hugo 73 69 73, Riekus Nortje 71 68 76

216 - Drikus Bruyns 69 77 70, Heinrich Bruiners 70 76 70, Oliver Bekker 73 70 73

217 - Ulrich van den Berg 75 71 71, CJ du Plessis 71 72 74, Merrick Bremner 72 69 76, Jake Roos 69 71 77

218 - Louis Calitz 71 75 72, Wallie Coetsee 79 70 69

219 - Johan du Buisson 76 70 73, Alex Haindl 68 78 73, Tyrone Mordt 80 69 70, Daniel Greene 75 70 74

220 - Christiaan Basson 73 73 74, Daniel Hammond 72 75 73, Steven Ferreira 73 73 74, Erik van Rooyen 75 71 74

221 - Dean Burmester 72 74 75, Attie Schwartzel 74 75 72, Michael Hollick 75 70 76

222 - Keenan Davidse 74 72 76, Martin du Toit 74 74 74, Jake Redman 74 74 74

224 - Ruan de Smidt 75 73 76, Theunis Spangenberg 77 69 78, Warren Abery 71 74 79

225 - Vaughn Groenewald 76 71 78, Chris Erasmus 76 71 78, Andrew Curlewis 72 74 79

226 - Desvonde Botes 78 68 80

227 - James Kamte 74 75 78

228 - Anthony Michael 72 73 83

238 - Chris Swanepoel 76 73 89

RTD - Derik Ferreira 74 74 RTD 
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