Dramatic chip-in gives Schaper AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title as Gerard earns Masters berth
Jayden Schaper produced an electric finish with a chip-in eagle on the second play-off hole at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open to claim his second title in as many starts, edging out American Ryan Gerard by the proverbial whisker.
They were tied at 22-under after four days, both playing spectacular golf to tame the challenging La Réserve Golf Links over the final two rounds. Schaper shot 64-64, while Gerard carded 63-66. In the play-off, both parred the 18th on the first attempt, and then on the second trip, Schaper ended the battle with a chip-in eagle, leaving Gerard stunned and without an answer.
Throughout the day, Schaper was never found wanting when it came to great shots, but after such a mind-boggling win, he was almost at a loss for words.
“I don't even know what to say. That's just such an insane way to finish a tournament,” he said after hugging his mother, who was there to witness the amazing moment.
With his family by his side, Schaper ensured a memorable holiday season. “I could not have asked for anything better. Christmas is going to be good this year, and New Year too. It's just unreal.”
For Schaper, it was a second win in as many weeks, and his last three results have been 2nd-1st-1st—a brilliant start to his 2026 DP World Tour season. Before his win at the Alfred Dunhill last week, Schaper was tied second at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and has now comfortably won the Opening Swing of the DP World Tour.
Schaper didn’t stop there...
Gerard traveled almost 10,000 miles from Florida to Heritage Resorts’ La Réserve Links seeking a win and a passage to the Masters. He fell just short, but his runner-up finish was enough to move him into the Top-50 from 57th, securing an invitation and a tee time at Augusta National in April. Earlier this year, Gerard won the Barracuda Championship, co-sanctioned by the PGA and the DP World Tour.
Earlier in the day, the duo broke away from a pack that had seemed too tightly bunched, making the contest resemble near match play. Schaper, starting the final day two shots behind overnight leaders Gerard and Casey Jarvis, produced a birdie-birdie-eagle run from the third to the fifth holes. He turned in 4-under for the front nine, but Gerard was also 4-under.
Schaper’s fast start, with back-to-back birdies from long range on the third and fourth, set the tone. Two great shots on the fifth gave him a five-foot putt for eagle, which he sank to join the lead at 18-under. But Gerard responded with his own magic to move ahead again.
Schaper made a couple of important par saves to keep his card clean, while Gerard continued his front-nine surge with four birdies. Schaper trailed by two but reduced the deficit to one with a birdie at the 11th.
On the back nine, as others like Jarvis (71) and Alexander Levy (73) fell back, the 24-year-old Schaper birdied the 11th while Gerard birdied the 12th, keeping Gerard two ahead. Schaper then produced back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th to join Gerard at 21-under.
Schaper didn’t stop there. Another birdie on the 18th forced Gerard to make a birdie to extend the play-off. Gerard delivered a brilliant second shot and made the tricky up-and-down to tie.
In the ensuing play-off, both parred the first hole before Schaper produced a blockbuster eagle to seal his second win.
Schaper gushed, “The last three weeks have been incredible. It's been such a great week, such an awesome place, the support, the golf course—from start to finish. I waited five years for the first title, and then the following week to get the second is so cool.”
Jarvis, who had shared the lead for the first three days, managed only a 71 with three birdies. As Schaper and Gerard turned it into a two-horse race, Jarvis ended five shots back in third place at 17-under.
Andreas Halvorsen, who shot 7-under in the third round, had another great outing with a bogey-free 6-under 66, finishing fourth at 16-under.
Zander Lombard recorded the best round of the week with 10-under 62, but after modest earlier rounds of 72-68-71, he totaled 15-under and tied for fifth with 2024 champion John Parry (68).
Alexander Levy, playing on a sponsor’s invite, faltered with a 73 after three excellent rounds of 68-66-67, finishing tied for seventh with Spaniard Manuel Elvira (70) at 14-under.
