Recent Sunshine Tour Qualifying School graduate, Herman Loubser, got his season off to a great start when he won the Lombard Insurance Classic in sudden death at Arabella Golf Club on Sunday.
Loubser had rounds of 67 and 73 to set himself up for a final round of his season and come Sunday, he was ready for whatever came at him. In the third and final round, Loubser knew he had to give it everything if he was to walk away with his maiden Sunshine Tour title and after finishing the tournament tied with Ockie Strydom for the top spot, sudden death awaited to test his resolve.
His final round of three-under 69 left him with a tournament total of seven-under, tied with Serengeti’ Golf Estates’ Strydom who carded a 68 in the final round.
“It hasn’t kicked in yet. But I had a drink from the trophy, and it tasted so sweet,” said Loubser after his hard-earned victory in the Western Cape.
The Modderfontein golfer had to qualify for a spot in Kleinmond and the playoff against an experienced Strydom meant another opportunity for Loubser to prove his worth. After both players made par on the first hole of sudden death, they returned to the 18th for another attempt. Only this time, Loubser made a birdie while Strydom wasn’t able to.
“I know Ockie really well and have played with him a lot before. He’s such a great ball striker and it was intimidating. I also haven’t had a great record in playoffs before this. But I got it done. I’m into the bigger tournaments now which is massive for me.
“I can plan my schedule a bit better. You don’t know if you’re good enough to do it out here until you do it. Now I know I’m good enough to be out here, and hopefully, there will be a few more,” he said.
Loubser turned professional in 2017 after winning the Qualifying School at Randpark. He was a winner on the Altron Big Easy Tour in 2020 but had to return to the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School after losing his card just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world.
