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Jayden Schaper: Image Credit - SA Tour Golf

JAYDEN Schaper was the highest-placed golfer among the South African contingent at the recently concluded Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand, held at Gut Altentann Golf Club in Salzburg, Austria.

The 24-year-old South African professional finished tied for fifth place on 13-under-par 267, just six shots behind the overall winner, Nicolai von Dellingshausen of Germany, who carded 19-under-par 261. This marked Schaper’s best finish in his last five tournaments.

Ranked world number 234, Schaper began the tournament with a first-round three-under-par 67 on the par-70 course, the highlight being an eagle on the par-four 16th hole. He also made birdies on holes one, two and three, before bogeying the seventh and 14th. In the second round, Schaper signed for a 66, which included six birdies and two bogeys, before closing out the final two rounds with identical scores of 67. Both of his last two rounds featured four birdies and a single bogey. Schaper was tied for fifth alongside Marcel Siem of Germany and Callum Tarren of England. While Schaper secured a top-five finish, fellow South African Brandon Stone finished tied for 11th on 10-under-par 270, sharing the spot with Japan’s Keita Nakajima. Zander Lombard finished tied for 42nd on three-under-par 277. Robin Williams shot a one-under-par 279 to finish tied for 56th, while Richard Sterne recorded a level-par 280.

For his fifth-place finish, Schaper earned 125 Road to Dubai Ranking Points, with the winner, von Dellingshausen, claiming 585 points. It was the German’s first DP World Tour victory, achieved on his 110th start.