The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Maas earns low amateur at Investec South African Open Championship
12.05.2022 | Men's Golf
UT freshman becomes only the third amateur to win the Brabazon Trophy and the Freddie Tait Cup in the same calendar year.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — University of Texas Men's Golf freshman Christiaan Maas claimed the low amateur honor at the 112th Investec South African Open Championship on Sunday at Blair Atholl Golf Estate. Maas finished in a tie for 35th place with a four-round score of 5-under-par 283 (69-65-72-77).
Maas became just the third amateur to win the Brabazon Trophy and the Freddie Tait Cup (low amateur at the South African Open Championship) in the same calendar year. He claimed the Brabazon Trophy with a five-stroke victory in May at the English Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Saunton Golf Club with a total of 14-under-par 270 (65-70-67-68). Maas joined Neville Sundelson (1974) and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (2002) in accomplishing the feat.
"I've been following the rise of the GolfRSA National Squad guys the last two years, and Christiaan has been very impressive," Schwartzel said following the tourney. "He just started college in the United States a few months ago and already made such a mark with the Texas Longhorns that he made the watch list for the Fred Haskins Award. The SA Open is always a tough week, and it's even tougher for an amateur to perform well under this kind of pressure. He showed his skills in the first two rounds, and the strength of his mental game kept him in front on the last two days when things didn't go his way. He has a great future in the game."
The No. 34 player in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings, Maas was one of 20 players named to the final fall watch list for the Fred Haskins Award which honors the top men's collegiate golfer. He played in each of UT's five fall tournaments and leads the team with a 70.30 stroke average. Maas posted a season-best tie for third place at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 3-4) at 6-under-par 204 (70-67-67). He shot par or better in seven of his 10 stroke-play rounds this fall, including three rounds in the 60s.
Players Mentioned
