South African teenager Christiaan Maas blows away English challenge to hint at great times ahead
ENGLAND GOLF: Tuesday May 24th
FORMAT 72-hole stroke play
Christiaan Maas dropped a big hint he could be South Africa’s next golfing superstar after he dismantled a world-class field at Saunton on Sunday.
Maas has been model of consistency in his native country this year and the World No 31 carried that into the English Open Stroke Play (Brabazon Trophy), blowing away the challenge of England team-mates Arron Edwards-Hill and reigning champion Sam Bairstow at the start of the fourth round.
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The 18-year-old matched the margin of victory recorded by fellow teenager Ben Schmidt three years ago (five shots) and became the sixth South African to win the coveted title.
Maas started the the final day one clear of Edwards-Hill but his impressive long game carried him to glory while Ireland International Matthew McClean moved ahead of Bairstow into fourth.
“It has to be the best golf, ball-striking wise, I’ve ever played,” the Pretoria player told England Golf. “Off the tee this is the first tournament that I haven’t lost a golf ball!
“I’m proud to win this tournament – a big one and I don’t really know what to say. I’m just glad I pulled it off.”
Maas wasted no time establishing his dominance at the Devon links venue in the final round, birdieing four of the first six holes to plough five shots clear of his playing partner from Essex.
He was never seriously challenged thereafter to close out with a 68, his fourth successive under-par score. On the Thursday he opened with a six-under-par 65, a round that included nine birdies.
Home county champion Eliot Baker collected the George Henriques Trophy (leading player aged under 20). He edged out Scottish Boys champion Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield) and Suffolk ace Tyler Weaver (Bury St Edmunds) by one shot.