Jovan Rebula today has the opportunity to do something his decorated uncle, Ernie Els, never managed; win the Amateur Championship title.
The 20-year-old Rebula swept into the 36-hole final of the unpaid game’s blue riband event at Royal Aberdeen with a 6&4 victory over Englishman Mitch Waite to set up a showdown with Ireland’s Robin Dawson.
Els, who won the first of his two Open Championships on Scottish soil at Muirfield in 2002, does actually have some experience of the Amateur Championship final having caddied for his South African colleague Ben Fouchee in the last two of the 1988 event at Royal Porthcawl.
The South African great has been keeping close tabs on his nephew’s progress in the north east and Rebula has certainly been inspired by his uncle’s pearls of wisdom.
“Every night he’s been sending me messages,” Rebula revealed. “We have our own Afrikaans slang and I got a text message last night which basically said: ‘come on boy.’ Then he said ‘take it on and grab the bull by the horns’.
“We have a very tight relationship. He’s always motivating me. He’s been awesome.”
Rebula was never in any trouble during his semi-final joust with Waite. The Englishman’s ambitions were not helped when he snapped his driver on the sixth tee in frustration after a poor drive.
“I’ve got a good feel for this golf course,” added Rebula who is looking to become the first South African to win the Amateur Championship since Bobby Cole in 1966.
“It’s difficult to stay calm in these windy conditions but I’ve handled it well. We’ll just see how it goes tomorrow.”
In the other semi, Dawson overcame his fellow Irishman, Conor Purcell, by a 3&2 margin to seal his place in the final
“I’ve played a lot of solid shots and I’ve had a good game plan,” said Dawson.
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