The wins keep adding up for Selborne College’s Ben Weber (14), who made history last week at the SA Amateur Championship and then went on to win the East London Open on Sunday.
After 36-holes, he was tied for the lead on two-under par and it took only one extra hole to claim the victory, beating his Border Men’s teammate, Sunil Pillay, in a playoff. This is Ben’s second East London Open win, following his victory last year.
At Royal Johannesburg East Course last week, Ben became the youngest ever winner of the Proudfoot Trophy — the 36-hole stroke play qualifier for the SA Amateur Championship — since its inception in 1931.
Ben set an early clubhouse target of nine-under-par and fellow SA national squad member Nash de Klerk made the strongest charge and got within two shots with a trio of birdies from the 10th but could not take advantage of the remaining par fives and left Ben to claim victory.
Previous winners of the Proudfoot Trophy include five-time Open champion Bobby Locke and legends of the game Hugh Baiocchi, Dales Hayes, Denis Hutchinson and Sunshine Tour champion Luca Filippa.
This is Ben’s first Open Amateur win and he said he is proud to have his name alongside so many great champions, in only his second GolfRSA men’s event.
In the run-up to the event, Ben was working on a more intense result-based training programme with regards to his course management for hours a day after a school for five days a week.
In future, he hopes to represent the GolfRSA U16 team in the Reply Italian Open in September and to win this event, as he came 12th last year.
Selborne College’s master in charge of golf, Shane Viviers, said the school was extremely proud of Ben’s achievement and that his performance stood as testimony to the schools commitment to develop serious and social golfers by exposing them to different courses around the country and entering events that challenges their skill set.
He said: “Ben’s win serves as an inspiration to all golfers in the Border region.
“Ben is diligent in the classroom and professional as a golfer.
“I haven’t come across many 14-years-olds who are meticulous about their preparation and diet.
“We are extremely proud of Ben’s achievement, to win the Proudfoot Trophy is a massive achievement in itself but to win it as a 14-year-old is remarkable.”
Ben’s father Pierre said the family was proud of Ben not only for his successes but also for his calm and concentrated performance.
Pierre said: “Being the youngest to ever win in over 100 years is an extremely rare achievement and a record that will more than likely stand for another 100 years.
“The magnitude of this achievement will likely open a lot of doors going forward for him.
“Ben will continue to work to his goal to be the best golfer he can be by working harder than anyone else.”
