Open a 'dream come true' for Schietekat

Playing in the British Open is one of the ultimate goals of professional golfers. Most will never make it into the exclusive field, never rub shoulders with the game's elite on the perfectly manicured fairways and greens.

But for young South African talent Neil Schietekat and seasoned campaigner Martin Maritz, their dream will be realised in July when they tee off at the 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's Golf Club.

"It's awesome to be going to the Open, it's a dream come true," Johannesburg professional Schietekat told The Times.

The 26-year-old, along with countryman Maritz and Dutchman Floris de Vries, qualified for the major at the Open International Final Qualifier, Africa event, held at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club last week.

With the top three qualifying, Vries won the two-day event with a 10-under-par total, followed by the two local men at six-under.

The third major of the year will be Schietekat's first professional tournament outside Africa - excluding the European Qualifying School - and what a place to do it.

The knowledge he has of the course will be priceless to his success.

"I played at Royal St George's in the British Amateur six years ago. It's awesome, with some really difficult holes," he recalled. "Didn't do too well there, though.

"There are four or five holes that are really difficult."

Schietekat turned pro in 2006 and had his best year as a professional last season, pocketing more than R600000 in prize money on the local Sunshine Tour, finishing 19th on the order of merit.

He said the key to that success came mainly from three of the four European Tour co-sanctioned events. "It makes a big difference to just make the cut in the four big tournaments."

He did more than just make the cut. He tied for 21st at the Africa Open and shared 17th at the Joburg Open in January last year.

Sadly, he missed the cut at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December, but came storming back a week later to tie for 14th at the SA Open.

This year started much the same with a share for 18th place at the Africa Open.

The Joburg Open a week later didn't go totally according to plan, but a tie for 33rd was still a pretty good effort.

The Modderfontein Golf Club professional sees playing on the European Tour as the next step in his promising career.

"I will play in the Open and then probably the Dunhill Links - I'll more than likely qualify through my finish on the Sunshine Tour last season," he said.

"I will then go to European Q-School to try get my card, if not, I will try on the Asian Tour - that Q-School is in January."

About 1000 competitors enter the European Qualifying School each year, with just the top 30 and ties collecting their tour card following the final stage.

Maritz turned pro in 2000 and has had an up and down career.

The Pretoria-born golfer spent the last three years as a club professional at two courses in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which he now calls home. Married to an American and with two children, Maritz has returned to South Africa to play in a select handful of tournaments over the past few years.

But last year he played 14 tournaments and looks to be keen to play more on the local tour.