GEORGE (2 March 2016) – Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent, the younger brother to American-based professional Scott Vincent, took out South Africa’s number two and three-ranked players on day two of the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship at George Golf Club on Wednesday.

In the morning’s second round, Vincent beat SA number three Herman Loubser on the 21^st hole. It was an incredible contest in which Loubser fought back with birdies at 17 and 18 to keep the match alive before eventually losing to Vincent’s birdie on the 21^st hole.

Then in the afternoon’s third round, Vincent knocked out SA number two Tristen Strydom 2&1. Strydom was 2Up at the turn and Vincent responded with five straight birdies to take the match. Continue reading →

GEORGE (1 March 2016) – Tristen Strydom took his first step towards his goal of regaining his number one ranking in the country when he made it through the first round of the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship at George Golf Club on Tuesday.

The Ekurhuleni golfer beat Boland’s Garrick Higgo 2&1. He will face Gauteng North’s Philip Kruse in the second round. Kruse beat beat Proudfoot Trophy winner Rory Franssen of Scotland 1Up. Continue reading →

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 →