ANGUS, Scotland (16 June 2015) – James du Preez from Gauteng North and KwaZulu-Natal’s Martin Rohwer lead the South African challenge after the opening round of the 120th edition of the prestigious Amateur Championship in Scotland.
Both players opened their campaign at Panmure Golf Club near Angus.
Rohwer, a junior at the University of Alabama, offset four bogeys with five birdies for a one-under-par 69 to tie for 25th, while Du Preez carded an even-par 70 for a share of 44th.
Gauteng North’s Jason Smith and Hendrikus Stoop and Jade Buitendag from Southern Cape started at Panmure.
Smith played steady golf, but just couldn’t convert for birdies to counter four bogeys and signed for a 74. Stoop mixed a birdie at the second hole with eight pars to turn one under, but a double and a triple on the back nine saw him open with a 75.
Buitendag erased a bogey at four with a birdie at five, however, he registered a 76 after a double bogey at six and four more drops on his card.
Over at Carnoustie, Matthew Spacey and Ian Snyman both opened with five-over-par 77s, while Ekurhuleni’s Bryce McCabe returned an 81.
Central Gauteng’s Spacey had a lone birdie at the fourth hole and six bogeys, while Snyman from the Western Province erased a hat-trick of birdies with double bogeys at 10 and 15 and a triple bogey at the par-four 18th.
Meanwhile England’s Alfie Plant fired a course record seven-under-par 63 at Panmure to take a one stroke lead. The 22-year-old leads from Scotland’s Grant Forrest and Ryan Chisnall from New Zealand, who both navigated the challenging layout at Carnoustie in 67 strokes.
The South African contingent will have to pull out all the stops in today’s second round to finish inside the cut, set to 64 and ties.
Only the qualifiers will contest the title over four days of match play at Carnoustie.
SA LEADERBOARD – ROUND 1
Panmure – par 70 / Carnoustie – par 72
69 Martin Rohwer (P)
70 James du Preez (P)
74 Jason Smith (P)
75 Hendrikus Stoop (P)
76 Jade Buitendag (P)
77 Matthew Spacey; Ian Snyman (C)
81 Bryce McCabe (C)
To follow live scoring from second round of The Amateur Championship, click HERE
PHOTO – Gauteng North’s James du Preez; credit Roger Sedres / Image SA.