20 August 2015 – Teaghan Gauche edged out fellow Gauteng North player James du Preez and Mpumalanga’s Andre van Heerden in a count out to win the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifier for the KwaZulu-Natal Amateur Championship on Thursday.

Gauche, Van Heerden and Du Preez tied for the lead on four-under-par 140 at the end of regulation play.

The trio finished one stroke ahead of Southern Cape Open champion Carlo O’Reilly from the Western Province.

Gauche was two under at the turn. After trading bogeys at one and three for gains at two and four, the Wingate Park player reeled in five straight pars for a second successive 70.

Van Heerden opened with a 66 and carried a one stroke lead over James du Preez into the final round. The Walker Park golfer returned a 74, while Du Preez from Pretoria Country Club carded a 73 to share second place.

O’Reilly carded rounds of 72 and 69 to finish on three under, one stroke ahead of Aubrey Beckley (70) from North West and Central Gauteng pair Darin de Smidt (71) and Jason Viljoen (69).

Due to failing light, the four-way play-off for 32nd place and six-way play-off for 48th place were held over to early Friday morning and the match play stage for the KZN Amateur Championship will commence thereafter.

36-Hole Stroke Play Qualifier Result
140 Teaghan Gauche 70 70 (count-out)
140 Andre van Heerden 66 74; James du Preez 67 73
141 Carlo O’Reilly 72 69
142 Aubrey Beckley 72 70; Darin de Smidt 71 71; Jason Viljoen 73 69
143 Albert Venter 72 71; David Mcintyre 71 72
144 Kevin Smith 76 68; Andrew van der Knaap 75 69; Keagan Thomas 73 71
145 Clayton Mansfield 73 72; Herman Loubser 75 70; Andi Dill 73 72; Reinhardt Blaauw 70 75
146 Matthew Spacey 77 69; Philip Kruse 72 74
147 Siyanda Mwandla 79 68; Zabastian de Jager 76 71; Basil Wright 76 71; Elmo Barnard 74 73; Mohit Mediratta 70 77; Keegan Steyn 76 71

PHOTO – Teaghan Gauche; credit Catherine Kotze / SASPA

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