Higgo headlines junior golf tourney

DE ZALZE golfer Garrick Higgo is a young man on a mission.

The home-schooled Boland teenager has been in a league of his own in the 97-strong boys division through two rounds of the 56-hole Curro South African Junior International stroke play tournament at Durbanville Golf Club this week.

It has been much the same in the girls division with Johannesburg Country Club’s Woo-Ju Son the lead act in the 44-strong girls line-up.

Higgo, 16, sits on 11-under-par 133, seven clear of Slovakia’s Jakub Hrinda, who moved up a place to outright second after posting a four-under 68. Justin Kirsten (68), Wilco Nienaber (69) and Constantin Unger (71) share third place.

Higgo began his campaign on Tuesday on a positive note with a five-underpar 67 in testing conditions giving the 16-year-old a two-shot lead heading into the penultimate round yesterday.

He teed off just before noon and once again played superb golf on the par-72 layout on his way to a six-under 66.

“I don’t think home ground advantage has given me any kind of edge over my rivals,” said Higgo. “You have to be able to play golf to challenge for titles at this level, and without trying to sound arrogant, I’ve played really well for the first 36 holes. And I’m not going to allow myself to fall into the trap of being overconfident for the final 18 holes (today).”

Higgo was on song early as he birdied the first and eagled the par-five second.

“I hit a long drive at the second and opted for a three-wood for my approach, which was about 215m out. The ball ended up a foot from the hole after nearly going in. I dropped the putt and from then on never looked back,” said Higgo.

Son followed her first-round even-par 72 with a 69 to take a six-shot lead. She finished third last year. Chrystal Beukes (72) will chase her down as will Catherine Lau (73) and Brittney-Fay Berger (72).