EZULWINI – Mongiwetfu Masuku staged a superb comeback to win the FNB Challenge pre-qualifiers and the E16 500 top prize yesterday.
The 18-year-old Masuku recovered from a slow opening round to claim the FNB Challenge pre-qualifier title after carding a winning 54-hole aggregate of 220 at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club.
Vusi Dlamini addressed the controversy surrounding the recent payout, noting that by virtue of the fact that an elite amateur is not yet a professional, they are strictly bound by prize limits. ‘Much like international standards seen in events like the British Open,’ Dlamini explained, ‘an elite amateur is only permitted to accept a set maximum of US$1 000, which is E16 500 to protect their status. Anything exceeding that cap cannot be claimed without forfeiting their amateur standing, meaning the remainder must return to the tournament coffers.” This means instead of the E20 000 he received E16 500.
Masuku signed for rounds of 77, 71 and 72 to finish two strokes clear of Machawe Maziya, who returned 222, while Nathan Keon completed the podium on 225.
Besides securing a place in the FNB Challenge main tournament from August 13–15, Masuku walked away with the E20 000 winner’s cheque. Runner-up Maziya earned E11 200, while Keon collected E8 750.
The victory marked a remarkable turnaround after Masuku opened with a disappointing 77 before producing an under-par second round to move himself firmly into contention.
Reflecting on his triumph, Masuku credited patience and belief in his game.
“I didn’t start well on Thursday, but I kept my composure. After the second round I was content and excited going into the final round because I had played under par and felt I had left my best for the last round. I trusted my game and my caddie, and everything came together. I would like to thank the organisers and our sponsors, FNB, for putting together such a wonderful tournament,” he said.
The victory also provides the perfect confidence boost ahead of the Nedbank Junior Challenge, which tees off tomorrow at Sun City in South Africa, where Masuku will be among the competitors.
