Breakthrough win for Bernhard Koster at Harry Oppenheimer Trophy in South Africa
6/12/2024 | by Amit Pandey of AmateurGolf.com
see also: View results for Harry Oppenheimer Trophy, Maccauvlei Golf Club
After finishing runner-up in 2023, the incoming freshman at UAB won in a sudden death playoff after eagling the final hole
Bernhard Koster, 19, from Pretoria, South Africa, clinched victory at the Harry Oppenheimer Trophy at Maccauvlei Golf Club in Vereeniging, South Africa.
Koster secured his win in a thrilling three-way playoff against Stefan Jacobs from Johannesburg and CJ Van Wyk from George. After all three players finished the tournament tied at 10-under 206.
Koster entered the final round in fifth place at 4-under par, while Stefan Jacobs enjoyed a solo lead at a 36-hole score of 9-under 135.
Koster shot a final round of 6-under 66, tying the tournament's lowest score for the week. His round was capped by a crucial eagle on the final hole, which brought him level with Jacobs and Van Wyk, forcing a playoff.
This victory holds special significance for Koster, who had previously finished as a joint runner-up in the tournament in 2023. He will head to UAB now as an incoming freshman for the 2024-25 fall golf season.
Stefan Jacobs, a sophomore at Augusta carded rounds of 68-67-71 and CJ van Wyk, the junior at Toledo carded 72-67-67 to register joint runner-up finish at the tournament.
Results: Harry Oppenheimer Trophy
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | , South Africa | 300 | 69-71-66=206 | |
| T2 | , South Africa | 200 | 68-67-71=206 | |
| T2 | , South Africa | 200 | 72-67-67=206 | |
| 4 | , South Africa | 100 | 68-68-72=208 | |
| T5 | , South Africa | 100 | 72-69-68=209 |
About the Harry Oppenheimer Trophy
54-hole stroke play championship open to amateurs who are members of a Golf Club affiliated to the South African Golf Association and who have a handicap of 3 (THREE) or less assessed in terms of the SAGA Course Rating and Handicapping System.
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