Congratulations to Centurion Country Club pair Albert Venter and Andrew van der Knaap, Woodhill’s Philip Kruse and James du Preez from Pretoria Country Club, who qualified for the Match Play stage of the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship that kicks off at George Golf Club on Tuesday.

Venter, who lifted the African Amateur Stroke Play Championship title at Leopard Creek Country Club in February, lead the Gauteng North challenge with rounds of 67 and 70 to tie for 12th on five-under-par 139. He will face Paul Boshoff from Ekurhuleni in the first round. Continue reading →

It started in an open field near Franklin Manchest’s home when he was four years old, and on Monday the 17-year-old golfer again underlined his potential when he finished as the leading South African in the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship’s 36-hole stroke play qualifying at George Golf Club.

On another magnificent day at the foot of the Outeniqua mountains, the Scottish golfers continued their dominance of this part of the Sanlam SA Amateur.

First place and the Proudfoot Trophy went to 17-year-old Scot Rory Franssen, who posted rounds of 64 and 68 to win on 12 under par. His countryman Craig Ross finished second one stroke back with rounds of 67 and 66.

But it was Manchest’s third place that caused quite a stir as he put together rounds of 68 and 67 to finish as the leading South African on nine under par. Continue reading →

GEORGE, 26 February 2016 – Big-hitting Aubrey Beckley from North West is itching to start the 2016 Sanlam SA Amateur Championship after closing out an emphatic five stroke victory in the Sanlam Cape Province Open on Thursday.

The Potchefstroom golfer denied defending champion James du Preez repeat success in the 72-hole curtain-raiser when he fired a blistering third round 64 and a flawless final round 65 at Kingswood Golf Estate to triumph on 20-under-par 268.

Gauteng North’s Du Preez returned a third round 66 and carded 64 in the final round to take second, while 36-hole leader Herman Loubser from Boland settled in third on 274 with rounds of 67 and 71. Continue reading →

GEORGE, 25 February 2016 – It wasn’t half as spectacular as his blistering seven under 65 in the first round at Kingswood Golf Estate, but Herman Loubser still got the job done and protected his overnight lead in the Sanlam Cape Province Open Championship with a one-under-par 71 at George Golf Club on Wednesday.

The Boland junior tops the 36-hole leaderboard at eight under 136 and holds a slender one stroke lead over Hans-Jurie Human, Albert Venter, Michael Sherriff and Keegan Steyn.

Loubser bogeyed 11, but got into red numbers with a trio of birdies at 12, 13 and 14 and ended a run of eight straight pars on the back nine with a birdie finish at the par four ninth.

“It was a real test of patience,” said the reigning Nomads SA Boys U-17 champion. Continue reading →

George, Western Cape (24 February 2016) – The watershed summer by South African golf’s young professional stars has certainly inspired the country’s top amateurs, with the number two-ranked James du Preez among those looking to make an impact in next week’s Sanlam SA Amateur at George Golf Club.

Du Preez will take the confidence of his impressive start to the year and the experience of playing alongside the professionals on the European Tour into next week’s amateur showpiece.

The Pretoria golfer has risen to number two on the South African Golf Association’s (SAGA) national rankings and will definitely have one of the country’s most prestigious amateur titles in his sights when the 36-hole qualifying tournament tees off this Sunday. Continue reading →

TSHWANE, 15 February 2016 – Woo-Ju Son described her final round in the Gauteng North Junior Championship as “very ordinary”, but even when the petite Gauteng junior punches below average, Son is tough to beat.

Just a month after a breakthrough victory in the Nomads WGWP Junior Championship at Durbanville Country Club, the Eagle Canyon golfer was delighted with a podium finish at Waterkloof Golf Club.

“This one was a lot tougher to win, and I guess that’s why this victory feels so much sweeter,” said 14-year-old Son.

Son boxed an eagle putt at the par five second and wiped out a trio of bogeys with seven birdies at to set the first round target with a blistering six-under-par 66.

She dropped four shots in the second round, but a birdie-birdie finish brought her home in even-par 72 and guaranteed a one stroke victory on six under 138 over fellow Gauteng player Kajal Mistry. Continue reading →

MALELANE, 13 February 2016 – South Africa’s Albert Venter swept to a five stroke victory in the inaugural African Amateur Stroke Play Championship on Saturday thanks in no small part to two superb 65s at the Leopard Creek Golf Estate.

The 19-year-old stunned with seven birdies on the back nine in the first round to lead England’s Jamie Bower by six strokes with his first 65. Continue reading →