Just a few days after South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship, another battle between the two sporting rivals occurred on the fairways of Benoni Country Club. It was not a team sport, this time.
On Thursday morning, Robertson Golf Club’s Jacquin Hess and the young Kayle Wykes arrived in Benoni leading after 36 holes. The two members of the Papwa Sewgolum Class held a single-shot lead over Australia’s Austin Bautista, who had backed up his opening 66 with a 71 on day two.
Two South Africans and an Australian in the final group. Things looked all even after nine holes. And then the showdown began. After a level-par front nine, Wykes lost momentum on the back nine and shot 39 on that stretch to sign for 75. Then it became a back-and-forth match-up between Hess and Bautista as both players showed grit and resilience.
Bautista was one-under on the front nine, and Hess was level-par. After the turn, where one player made a birdie, the other made a par, and vice versa from holes 10 to 13. Hess dropped on 14, and Bautista made par. They both birdied 16, and Bautista birdied the last to seal a round of 68 and claim a two-shot victory on a total 11-under-par 205.
“I got one up on you guys today,” Bautista joked, referring to the sporting rivalry between his country and South Africa.
“It was why I play professional golf,” said Bautista after his hard-fought win. “If you gave it to me more easily, I would probably not as enjoy it as much. It was a really good battle, and Hessy played really well. I was trying to pull away, but it’s hard to win golf tournaments sometimes.”
Bautista also remarked on his aggressive strategy coming down the stretch.
“You don’t win golf tournaments playing safe,” he said with assurance. “Maybe some places, but even in the US Open, JJ Spaun didn’t win because he hit middle of the green and two-putted; he won because he went for it.
“You have to go for it. You have to back yourself and believe in yourself. I did. I pulled off all the shots that I had to pull off.”
Bautista becomes the first Australian professional to win on the Betway Big Easy Tour, and with his triumph in the East Rand, he now moves to fifth on the Order of Merit. The top 12 players on the standings by the end of the campaign will earn their Sunshine Tour playing privileges for the next season.
