Young Yurav conquers his Open nerves

WHAT a few days it has been for Yurav Premlall. Not only did the Edenglen resident become the youngest player ever, at 15 years and five months, to qualify for the SA Open this week, he also made the halfway cut and will play at the weekend, alongside some of the biggest names in local golf.

“I guess it’s quite an historic thing being the youngest, but I haven’t even thought about that,” he said after a second round four-underpar 67 on Randpark’s Bushwillow course yesterday that left him with a total of two-under-par for his two rounds.

In Thursday’s opening round he shot a two-over par 73 on the tougher Firethorn course.

“Having now played on both courses, Firethorn is definitely the tougher of the two. I did some stats on the courses and found Bushwillow to be on average three shots harder. I however had to grind it out today, especially with the wind up, so I’m happy with the fourunder-par.

“I’ll have to wait and see if I make the cut. I really hope I do; I’d love to play at the weekend.”

Premlall did make the cut, along with three other amateurs, Jovan Rebula, who is Ernie Els’ nephew, Deon Germishuys, and Wilco Nienaber.

Premlall said he had been a bunch of nerves on Thursday, after earlier qualifying for the open on Tuesday. “I battled with the nerves in the first nine holes on Thursday. I told myself I couldn’t go on like that and luckily I was able to block it out. Today was much better.”

Nienaber from Bloemfontein shot a pair of 69s on the first two days to be at four-under-par, but it could have been a whole lot better. He started with an eagle-three on the par-five first on Bushwillow and then made three birdies in a row at 10, 11 and 12, but finished with bogeys at 16, 17 and 18.

“I’m still feeling good though and excited for the weekend,” he said. “I was really nervous on Thursday and was literally shaking over every shot. Nothing can prepare you for playing at a SA Open. I figured things out though and today was better.”

He added the battle for the Freddie Tait Cup – for the leading amateur – would be an intense one.

“I’m so excited to be here for the weekend... to play all four rounds at the SA Open at the first time of asking; I’m so happy.”

Nienaber, who was at school at Grey College, has just completed his matric exams.

“It was a tough year, juggling golf and school. I regularly finished a round and was into the books; it was hard.”