ANGUS, Scotland (15 June 2015) – Gauteng North’s Hendrikus Stoop launched the South African challenge in the Amateur at Carnoustie and Panmure in Angus, Scotland on Monday.
This year’s championship has a strong international flavour with 30 countries represented among the 288 competitors chasing glory this week.
Stoop is among of eight South Africans who have lined up in the 120th edition of the prestigious international event, including his fellow SA squad members Jason Smith and James du Preez from Gauteng North, Central Gauteng’s Matthew Spacey and Jade Buitendag from Southern Cape, as well as rising Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation star Ian Snyman from Western Province, Bryce McCabe from Ekurhuleni and Martin Rohwer from KwaZulu-Natal, a junior at the University of Alabama.
Stoop and company will attempt to qualify for the match play format of the championship over two rounds of stroke play (one round each at Carnoustie and Panmure).
The players who survive the cut, set at 64 and ties, will contest the match play segment over four days at Carnoustie.
More than 30 players in the field rank inside the top 100 on the World Amateur Golf ranking, including reigning Australian Junior Boys champion Ryan Ruffels, two-time European Amateur champion Ashley Chesters of England and 2015 Lytham Trophy winner Marcus Kinhult of Sweden.
The Amateur Champion will earn exemption into the 144th Open at St Andrews and the 2016 US Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Traditionally, an invitation is also extended to the winner to play in the Masters Tournament at Augusta.
Spacey, Snyman and McCabe are playing the challenging Carnoustie – one of the world’s most famous links courses and an Open Championship host on seven occasions – in round one, while the rest start their campaign at Panmure.
To follow the live scoring from the Amateur Championship – click HERE
PHOTO – Gauteng North’s Hendrikus Stoop leads South African challenge in the 120th Amateur Championship at Carnoustie and Panmure in Angus, Scotland; credit Roger Sedres / Image SA.