Els’ nephew Rebula eyes Amateur win

Jovan Rebula, the 20-yearold nephew of two-time Open champion Ernie Els, is through to the final of the 123rd Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen.

Rebula set up a title showdown with Irishman Robin Dawson over the Balgownie Links by recording a thumping 6&4 win over Englishman Mitch Waite in the semi-finals.

“He [Els] sends me text messages every night,” said Rebula, who is looking to become the first South African to win the amateur game’s blue riband event since Bobby Cole in 1966. “When I made the cut to get into this position he said ‘you know you can do it, just stick to your game and you know you’re good enough’. Obviously getting messages like that from a guy that has achieved way more than this is really special. We have a really tight bond.”

Dawson beat two of his compatriots, St Andrews Links Trophy winner John Murphy and Conor Purcell, to set up a chance to become the first Irishman to claim the prize since Brian Mcelhinney in 2005.

“I’ve known him [Rebula] for a couple of years now from going down to play in tournaments in South Africa. It should be a good game tomorrow,” said the Tramore man.