Open debut for De Vries

Dutchman to be joined by Shietekat and Maritz at Sandwich

Last updated: 20th January 2011  

Open debut for De Vries

De Vries: four-shot victory

I sort of knew after yesterday that I could do it as I was playing really well, but it's a great feeling and I can't wait.

Floris de Vries
Quotes of the week

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Floris de Vries, Neil Schietekat and Martin Maritz will all make their Open Championship debuts at Royal St George's this July after finishing in the top three of International Final Qualifying in South Africa.

Dutchman De Vries romped to a comfortable four-shot victory in the 36-hole event which was held over the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club's East course.

The 21-year-old from Rheden was the joint-overnight leader after a 64 in the first round and followed it with a 68 to finish well clear on 10-under-par.

Justin Walters had looked primed to claim one of the other two places on offer having matched de Vries' opening 64, but he fell away badly with a 75 to allow Schietekat and Maritz to book their spots.

The South African duo shot 66 and 67 respectively to finish in joint-second on six-under overall.

Winner De Vries, who only turned professional in 2009, endured an awful start to his round as he picked up two bogeys in his first three holes, but he then picked up dramatically with three birdies before the turn and two more on his outward nine.

Great feeling

"It feels really great," he said after clinching his place at the season's third major. "I sort of knew after yesterday that I could do it as I was playing really well, but it's a great feeling and I can't wait.

"I wish it was next week already."

Maritz's hopes of a major debut appeared to be fast fading after he bogeyed the par-four 15 to slip out of contention, but two birdies in his last three holes lifted him to a four-under 67.

The 33-year-old, who recently took a break from professional golf due to frustration over his game, stated: "When I stopped playing full-time three years ago, there were two things I was a bit disappointed about.

"One was not winning a tournament and the other was not playing in a major. So this is just fantastic."

Schietekat added: "I woke up this morning and said to my dad that after playing the British Amateur at Royal St George's, it would be quite ironic if I played my first major there.

"So I just went out today and fired five under and it went my way."

Walters disappointing round saw him end on a four-under total of 138, the same as Tyrone van Aswegen and Jacques Blaauw, who both shot 68 on Thursday.

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