Perth player 12 under par for 30 holes of final

DAZZLING DANNY  YOUNG WINS SOUTH AFRICAN TITLE

Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) is the new South African amateur champion. 
The 23-year-old from Perth produced a dazzling 12-under-par display to outclass the country's Jovan Rebula, a 17-year-old, 8 and 6 in the 36-hole final at Silver Lakes Golf Resort, Tshwane today.
Young was three up after nine holes and after have his lead cut to one pulled away again to re-establish a three-hole advantage at the end of the first round.
The 23-year-old Scot, who played the American college circuit with success for four years as a student at Lynn University, Boca Raton, had a tremendous bag of one eagle and seven birdies with only two bogeys in the morning round.
In the afternoon, Young's brilliant play continued. He birdied the 22nd to go four up. Lost the 23rd but then birdied the 24th, 25th and 28th to go six up.
He won the 29th with a par and finished the match off in style with a birdie at the 30th for an 8 and 6 triumph. 
Many competitors play their best golf getting to a final and then the quality of their play comes down a peg or two. But not so with Young.
He played very well to get to the final - and then he moved up yet another gear.
In all he had one eagle, 13 birdies and three bogeys over the course of the 30-hole final. That means he was a brilliant 12 under par for the holes played. 
Young had the joint third best qualifying aggregate over 36 holes and started the match-play as the fourth seed. Rebula, rated a very good prospect in South Africa, was 50th of the 64 qualifiers but he was outclassed in the final. But no disgrace to lose 8 and 6 to an opponent very much on song with a 12-under-par performance.
BIGGEST WIN OF CAREER
Later, Young  hailed his victory as the pinnacle of his career todate. It was the third win by a Scottish p;layer in the last five years of South African's premier amateur championship..
The last Scot standing was thrilled to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Michael Stewart and Brian Soutar, who triumphed in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and humbled to add his name to the marquee list of champions that includes Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman.
“This is massive; the biggest win of my career so far,” the Perthshire player said.
“I've won a few tournaments before, but this is by far the biggest win. You look at the trophy and there are some massive, massive names on it. To get my name alongside them is great. It speaks volumes for how I played this week.
“I felt really confident on the course.
“I had a really strong game plan and I executed it very well. The putt on six was crucial, and I fancied it. I hit a great putt and it went right in the middle. I had to scramble a bit for a four on eight and I holed a nice putt up the hill on nine.”



+ Picture of Daniel Young with the trophy by courtesy of Catherine Kotze. 

SOUTH AFRICAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Final (36 holes)
Daniel Young (Scotland) bt Jovan Rebula (S Africa) 8 and 6.