Nienaber claims Gauteng North Stroke Play with final-round 62

PRETORIA, South Africa (Jan. 27, 2019) – With a final-round 62, Wilco Nienaber claimed the Gauteng North Amateur Stroke Play title in his home country. That makes title No. 10 (at least in events recognized by the World Amateur Golf Ranking) for Nienaber over the past year.

At Silver Lakes Country Club, Nienaber put together rounds of 68-74-68-62 for a 16-under 272 total that left him three shots ahead of three men tied for second. Those chasers include Garrick Higgo, Casey Jarvis and Aneurin Gounden. Higgo gave the best chase, turning in a final-round 66 to climb into his position.

As for Nienaber, last summer he was stroke-play medalist at the British Amateur. He edged Norway’s Viktor Hovland, who would go on to win the U.S. Amateur, to claim that honor. The week before that, Nienaber was runner-up at the English Open Amateur Stroke Play, otherwise known as the Brabazon Trophy.

Nienaber mostly plays in his native South Africa, but told Golfweek writer Alistair Tait at the British Amateur that he would be interested to play for a college in the United States. He has competed a handful of times in the U.S., most notably winning the 2017 Greg Norman Academy Junior Invitational.

Nienaber is currently ranked No. 33 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Rankings, the highest South African.

Ever wondered HOW he stays at No 1?
Round 1: 68
Round 2: 72
Round 3: +1 after 45 holes
Back nine of 29 & final round loops of 30 & 32 for victory by 3 shots on 16-under! Congrats #GolfRSA National Squad's @NienaberWilco on Gauteng North Open win @SilverLakesGE!!#itstartshere pic.twitter.com/Tx1uLLbycN

— GolfRSA (@GolfRSA) January 27, 2019