This week will launch some significant activity in the ranks of world amateur golf with the 16th edition of the invitation-only Duke of York Young Champions in England and the start of the prestigious World Amateur Teams Championships (WATC) for both men and women, being held back to back near Cancun in Mexico this September.

DUKE OF YORK YOUNG CHAMPIONS
First up, Danielle du Toit from Gauteng North and Western Province’s Deon Germishuys will face 49 of the world’s top ranked juniors from 28 countries at Royal Birkdale from 13-15 September.

The field contesting this highly rated 54-hole stroke play championship feature under-18 national championship winners, players who have won a major golfing event in the preceding year, past champions or juniors issued a special invitation by the DOY Tournament Advisory Board.

Germishuys qualified by virtue of winning the Nomads SA Boys U-19 Stroke Play Championship title in Bloemfontein in March and Du Toit booked her spot with a runaway victory in the Nomads SA Girls Championship at Orkney Golf Club in June.

“The Duke of York Young Champions carries significant World Amateur Golf Ranking points and the rare opportunity for our players to compete against the best at Open Championship venues,” said Womens Golf South Africa Vice-President Sally Greasley.

“Danielle and Deon enjoyed their first look at the course on Sunday and they are quite eager to get out there for our second practice round today. This marks the first time that Royal Birkdale hosts this event. This coastal links course is a real beast and will definitely provide a real challenge for the players, especially when the wind gets up.”

Follow the scoring from the Duke of York Young Champions at http://doy-champions.com/2016-royal-birkdale/

WORLD AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
On Wednesday, Ivanna Samu, Kaleigh Telfer and Cara Gorlei will start their quest in the Espirito Santo Trophy, which gets underway at the Mayakoba El Camaleón and Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Clubs in Riviera.

The trio will aim to emulate Ashleigh Simon, Stacy Bregman and Kelli Shean, who claimed South Africa’s only victory in the prestigious event in 2006.

“The conditions are very hot and humid, much like being in Durban in January, so we first had some gym sessions to conquer the jetlag and acclimatise to the weather,” said Womens Golf South Africa President Karen Olivant.

“The players also worked with national coach Val Holland on their short games and walked the El Chameleon course on Sunday to get the lay of the land. Today and tomorrow we will have our two official practice rounds. Everyone is in great spirits and really looking forward to this year’s challenge.”

Follow the live scoring from the WATC at http://www.igfgolf.org/watc/watc2016/