Flawless Kyle McClatchie wins Gauteng North Open

PRETORIA, South Africa (January 28, 2018) - Kyle McClatchie was both flawless and dominant on his way to winning the Gauteng North Open hosted by Waterkloof Golf Club. During the four days of play McClatchie blitzed the field to finish 25-under and as a seven-stroke winner over 18-under Keegan Mclachlan. McClatchie opened with a 7-under 65 on Thursday before cooling off with an even-par 72 in Friday's second round. However, the golfer that tore apart Waterkloof Golf Club in the first round returned during the the final two rounds as McClatchie closed with rounds of 64-62. McClatchie came into the 36-hole final day four shots behind the lead but birdied 1, 2, 4 and 7 to jump back into contention. He added three more birdies on the back nine and then eagled the final hole to take a one-shot lead and carry momentum into the afternoon round. In the final round McClatchie duplicated his front nine from earlier in the day, again making birdies at 1, 2, 4 and 7 and going out in 32. Still one shot ahead heading into the final nine, he hit the gas and came home in 30, going 5 under on his last five holes, to leave the field behind. For McClatchie it was his fourth significant victory in the last three years, having previously won the 2016 Boland Amateur Open, the 2017 English Amateur/Brabazon Trophy and the 2017 Western Province Amateur. McClatchie's win also comes on the heels of a tied for 15th finish at this month's South African Open on the European Tour. He is South Africa's highest-ranked player and has moved to #17 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Ranking. James du Preez was third at 17-under, Samual Mckenzie took fourth at 15-under while in fifth it was the 13-under Otto van Buynder.