THERE were these back-to-back Sundays of December 7, 14 and 21 in 2025 which presented agony and ecstasy for 24-year-young Benoni-born golfer Jayden Schaper – a.k.a. ‘Clutch’ or the ‘Benoni Clutch’.
At the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, the player was ripped to the post by a single stroke by Norwegian fellow debutante Kristoffer Reitan for the coveted Nedbank Golf Challenge trophy. After that near and agonizing moment at the 18th, I photographed him as he was being transported to the players’ lounge in a cart whilst his dad Ryan consoled him with his arm upon his shoulder.
Understandably, Schaper appeared dejected and was exasperated by the final result, having staged a valiant game to catch up to Reitan who held a 5-shot lead when Round 4 commenced on the Sunday morning of December 7.
What I didn’t know was that Schaper possesses resilience – which he wasted no time in
demonstrating when he gave the disappointment of Sun City the heave-ho, to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship by an eagle in a playoff against fellow South African Shaun Norris, at Royal Johannesburg Golf Club’s East Course in Kensington on the following Sunday of December 14.
The triumph was Schaper’s first in the DP World Tour and happened to be an upgrade on his runner-up placing in the same tournament at Leopard Creek in 2020, shortly after he’d just turned pro.
The ‘Clutch’ held his nerve accordingly considering that himself and the field had to contend with a deluge of rain which flooded Saturday’s play and caused the contest to be reduced to 54 holes.
Shiver me timbers! As though that wasn’t enough, he probably surprised himself by further emerging triumphant in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open the following week on December 21 – achieving back-to-back DP World Tour victories on the trot.
The thing about my marvel regarding Schaper is that although I’ve photographed most of South Africa’s top golfers (most of whom he’s played against since graduating from his stellar amateur career) – before December 7 at Sun City, I don’t recall ever having focussed my camera’s viewfinder towards him specifically.
‘Twas the relentless pursuit of Reitan during the fourth round of play which awakened me to Schaper’s contender claim. After Reitan had started Sunday in the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City with a five-shot lead but made bogeys at the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 15th holes, whilst Schaper made four birdies to cut the Norwegian’s lead to a single stroke and tie for second with England’s Dan Bradbury – the young South African had served notice!
It was precisely pushing so close to victory which thereafter rendered Schaper disconsolate.
After his victory in Kensington, I went to Wikipedia to check up on him and was knocked for six to discover that his resume hints of a star on the ascendancy who trumped competition during his amateur period.
As Schaper continues to traverse the world’s courses under the auspices of the DP World Tour in pursuit of lofty feats such as qualification for the Masters Tournament at Augusta – no one in the sport so beloved by ‘The Black Knight’, a.k.a. Gary Player, can bet against him replicating the heights he realized during his amateur sojourn!
In South African history, Benoni is renowned for a commendable culture which ranges from inspiring the 2005 cult movie Straight Outa Benoni to being the hometown of Academy Award recipient Charlize Theron, rugby World Cup winner Bryan Habana and Princess of Monaco- Charlene, amongst others.
At the rate Schaper continues sinking birdies across golf courses – he must by now have realized worthy ambassador status for the “City of Lakes” (Benoni).
Schaper’s amateur feats make for impressive reading and include: being the top-ranked junior golfer in South Africa by age 15; becoming the first player to win the “grand slam” of junior titles (U13, U15, U17 and U19) in the country; and realizing the best amateur finish in the 2020 South African Open – since Ernie Else in 1989.
A member of Ebotse Golf Estate, Schaper’s dad Ryan – who played soccer for Jomo Cosmos FC during his youth – says Jayden’s golf dream started as soon as he could walk.
A Christian, upon winning his first tournament on the European Tour in 2025, Schaper was quoted thus: “It’s a dream come true and it’s prayers answered”.
Image Jacob MAWELA (Jayden Schaper limned in a moment of despair after losing out on the grand prize of the 2025 Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City).
