GREAT PERFORMANCE BY 18-YEAR-OLD BLAIRGOWRIE PLAYER

BRADLEY NEIL FINISHES JOINT SECOND

IN SOUTH AFRICAN STROKE-PLAY

Overnight leader Bradley Neil could not produce enough birdies to hold on to his advantage but he still finished joint second, beaten only by one shot, in the South African men's amateur stroke-play championship at Benoni Country Club.
A great performance by the 18-year-old Scottish boys match-play champion of 2013.
Neil shot 70, 66, 67 and 72 for a total of 13-under-par 275.
The winner, South African, Jason Smith was able to make up three strokes on the Scot over the final 18 holes to win with a 14-under total of 274, made up of 71, 66, 68 and 69.
Neil bogeyed the sixth but birdied the 10th; bogeyed the 15th but birdied the 16th. Then 
came a crucial bogey at the 17th.
Bradley needed an eagle 3 at the last to tie with Smith but had to settle for a birdie 4.
The 19-year-old South African covered the last seven holes in three under par with birdies at the short 12th, 16th and 18th.
Finishing alongside Neil on 275 were Irishman McElroy, the halfway leader, who had rounds of 69, 65, 70 and 71 for 275. He birdied the 18th to gain a share of second place.
Neil from Blairgowrie, didn’t hide his disappointment at the way things turned out.“Sure, I’m pretty disappointed because I played my poorest round on the final day,” said Neil.
“I feel that I let myself down, but all credit to Jason, though. Out there you are trying your hardest to win and Jason held up best under pressure; he was a fierce competitor and deserved the win.”
McElroy chose to be a little philosophical in defeat.
“I played really well, but it was all about putting,” the Ballymena amateur said. “Four birdies and three bogeys were not too bad, but I missed seven six-footers for birdie. When you are putting like that, you can’t expect to win. It was Jason’s day and he was a deserved winner.
“But at least I improved on my fifth place last year; that’s something positive to take home with me.”
South African Stefan Cronje was the third man on 275, thanks to a hole in one at the 12th, followed by birdies at the 13th and 14th. Bogeys at the 15th and 16th took the edge off his charge.
England's Toby Tree finished sixth on 277 after a seven-birdie closing round of 65.
British boys champion Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) tied for 19th place on 281 with scores of 67, 73, 69 and 72. He had two birdies and two bogeys, parring the last six holes in a row.
Scott Gibson (Southerness) had scores of 68, 73, 71 and 70 for 282. He had three birdies and one bogey in his final circuit.
Cawder's Jamie Savage finished joint 24th on 283 with rounds of 71, 73, 68 and 71. He had a double bogey 7 at the long ninth but highlighted his bogey-free inward half with birdies at the 11th, 15th, 16th and 18th.
Left-hander Bob McIntyre (Glencruitten) finished on 284 with rounds of 73, 69, 70 and 72. He came joint 27th. His final round included five birdies and a double bogey 6 at the seventh.


LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
274 Jason Smith (SAf) 71 66 68 69
275 Bradley Neil (Sco) 70 66 67 72, Dermot McElroy (Ire) 69 65 70 71, Stefan Cronje (SAf) 69 67 69 70
276 Romain Langasque (Fra) 71 69 69 67

SELECTED SCORES
277 Toby Tree (Eng) 70 73 69 65 (6th)
281 Ewen Ferguson (Sco) 67 73 69 72 (T19)
282 Scott Gibson (Sco) 68 73 71 70 (T21).
283 Jamie Savage (Sco) 71 73 68 71 (T24)
284 Bob McIntyre (Sco) 73 69 70 72 (T27)