Sunshine Tour/DP World Tour
Brandon Moyo
JAYDEN Schaper’s brilliant run continued with a superb play-off victory over Ryan Gerard at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at La Réserve Golf Links on Sunday, securing back-to-back wins after also triumphing in last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, which was also decided in a play-off.
The 24-year-old South African described the achievement as the best two weeks of his career, adding that he plans to rewatch footage of his brilliant eagle on the second play-off hole, calling it one of those shots golfers can only dream of. “Those are the shots you’re dreaming about when you’re on the practice green as a youngster. To pull it off in a tournament and in a playoff – I don’t know. I just can’t wait to get back and look at the footage of that shot because you’re in the moment and focused and you don’t really take in what just happened. I’m pretty sure it’s going to hit me later but it’s just so insane,” said Schaper. He added: “The last three weeks have been incredible. I don't even know what to say. That's just such an insane way to finish a tournament. It's been such a great week, such an awesome place, the support, the golf course. From start to finish. I could not have asked for anything better. Christmas is going to be good this year, and New Year. It's just unreal. I wait five years for the first (title) and then the following week (to get the second) is so cool.” Schaper and Gerard finished tied on 22-under-par 266, forcing a play-off. Schaper began the final round in fourth place, two shots off the lead, which was shared by Gerard and Casey Jarvis. He then closed with a flawless eight-under-par 64, having also carded the same score in the third round. He picked up back-to-back birdies on the third and fourth holes, followed by an eagle on the fifth to turn in 32 on a windy day. On the back nine, Schaper added four more birdies, three of which came in his final four holes. He birdied the 11th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes for a closing 32.
Over the past three weeks, Schaper finished second at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, first at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and first at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
| Position | Country | Player | Hole | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jayden Schaper* | -22 | 18 | 69 | 69 | 64 | 64 | 266 | |
| 2 | Ryan Gerard | -22 | 18 | 68 | 69 | 63 | 66 | 266 | |
| 3 | Casey Jarvis | -17 | 18 | 67 | 65 | 68 | 71 | 271 | |
| 4 | Andreas Halvorsen | -16 | 18 | 69 | 72 | 65 | 66 | 272 | |
| 5 | Zander Lombard | -15 | 18 | 72 | 68 | 71 | 62 | 273 | |
| 5 | John Parry | -15 | 18 | 70 | 68 | 67 | 68 | 273 | |
| 7 | Manuel Elvira | -14 | 18 | 68 | 67 | 69 | 70 | 274 | |
| 7 | Alexander Levy | -14 | 18 | 68 | 66 | 67 | 73 | 274 | |
| 9 | Scott Jamieson | -12 | 18 | 67 | 72 | 73 | 64 | 276 | |
| 9 | JC Ritchie | -12 | 18 | 74 | 69 | 68 | 65 | 276 | |
| 9 | Oihan Guillamoundeguy | -12 | 18 | 71 | 69 | 70 | 66 | 276 | |
| 9 | Anthony Quayle | -12 | 18 | 68 | 71 | 69 | 68 | 276 | |
| 9 | Brandon Stone | -12 | 18 | 68 | 68 | 71 | 69 | 276 | |
| 9 | Michael Hollick | -12 | 18 | 73 | 65 | 67 | 71 | 276 |
AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open Leaderboard
The top placed golfers at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open which Jayden Schaper won via play-off.