ST FRANCIS BAY (28 January 2015) – South Africa’s junior team claimed a resounding 14-4 victory in the two-day Test against France at St Francis Links on Wednesday.

The local heroes carried a five point lead into the final day, having won all three opening Foursomes and four out of six Singles games on day one.

A heavy overnight downpour caused a delayed start to the final day’s proceedings, but not even the overcast conditions and light drizzle could dampen the South African team’s fire at the magnificent Jack Nicklaus-designed layout.

The six-pack blasted to a clean sweep in the second round Foursomes and reeled in four points in the Singles to beat the French for a second successive year. Continue reading →

St Francis Links (28 January 2015) – South Africa has stretched their lead to 10 – 2 in the test against France at St Francis Links on Wednesday.

Overnight rain caused a delayed start to the final day’s proceedings, but the South African juniors was quick out of the blocks and stretched their five point overnight lead to eight points after another whitewash in the Foursomes.

Boland amateur Herman Loubser and JP Cooper from Gauteng North combined to beat Antoine Kuoch and Jeong-Weon Ko 6 & 5 to put the first points on the board.

Skipper Jovan Rebula from Southern Cape partnered Gauteng North’s Keegan de Lange to a 5 & 4 victory against Antoine Auboin and Leo Mathard.

Meanwhile Dylan Naidoo and Marco Steyn came under fire from Victor Veyret and Paul Foulquie, but the Central Gauteng pair rallied to secure the clean sweep by beating the visitors 2 & 1.

“The overcast weather and slight drizzle is doing very little to the team spirit and the team will be looking for another solid showing in the Singles this afternoon,” said South African Golf Association Golf Integration Manager, Eden Thompson.

SINGLES DRAW
JP Cooper vs Jeong-Weon Ko
Herman Loubser vs Antoine Kuoch
Dylan Naidoo vs Leo Mathard
Keegan de Lange vs Antoine Auboin
Marco Steyn vs Paul Foulquie
Jovan Rebula vs Victor Veyret

PHOTO: JP Cooper from Gauteng North and Boland’s Herman Loubser during the second round of the two-day Test between South Africa and France at St Francis Links; credit SAGA.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association and Gauteng North Golf Union.

JOHANNESBURG (27 January 2015) – South Africa enjoyed a productive first day against France at St Francis Links and will carry a five point lead into the final of the two-day Test on Wednesday.

The South African six-pack scored a clean sweep in the morning Foursomes and claimed four points in the afternoon Singles to lead the Test 7 – 2.

Southern Cape’s Jovan Rebula and Keegan de Lange from Gauteng North defeated Antoine Kuoch and Leo Mathard 5 & 3 to claim first blood in the Foursomes.

Gauteng North’s JP Cooper and Herman Loubser from Boland proved too tough a combination for Antoine Auboin and Victor Veyret, who went down 2 & 1, while Central Gauteng pair Marco Steyn and Dylan Naidoo completed the whitewash with a 2 & 1 victory against Jeong-Weon Ko and Paul Foulquie. Continue reading →

PRETORIA, 27 January 2015 – South Africa’s top ranked senior Mellette Hendrikse made a seamless transition to 2015 when he clinched a play-off victory Gauteng North Senior Open this January.

The 54-year-old Akasia golfer notched four provincial victories last year and wrapped up his number one spot with his second Indwe Risk Services SA Senior Amateur Stroke Play Championship title in October.

Hendrikse picked up where he left off when he produced a patented final round charge in the season-opener at Waterkloof Golf Club to tie Gerhard Strydom on one over 145. He clinched the title with a birdie at the first extra hole.

Having started the season on a winning note, Hendrikse is targeting the elusive ‘double’ at the invitation-only Players’ Championship at Sun City next month.

“Our two flagship events are the Players’ Championship and the Indwe Senior SA Stroke Play,” he said.

“I’ve won the Stroke Play twice, but the Players’ still eludes me. The best I’ve managed is a sixth place finish, but I’m going all out at Sun City this year.”

Although the Stroke Play has been around for a while, the Players’ Championship only launched in 2012.

“The Players’ Championship was the brainchild of fellow senior, Philip Viljoen,” Hendrikse explained.

“He dreamt of hosting a prestigious championship that would showcase the talents of the top senior amateurs in the country. Continue reading →

ST FRANCIS BAY, Eastern Province (26 January 2015) – Southern Cape junior Jovan Rebula will lead South Africa against France in a two-day Test that kicks off at St Francis Links on Tuesday.

The local six-pack will be looking to extend South Africa’s winning record to two after the country’s success in the first Test at Serengeti Golf & Wildlife Estate last year.

Rebula returns for South Africa, while  Gauteng North’s Keegan de Lange and JP Cooper, Herman Loubser from Boland, Marco Steyn and Dylan Naidoo from Central Gauteng complete the line-up at the Jack Nicklaus masterpiece in the Eastern Province.

Victor Veyret is the only holdover for the French and the Chantilly junior will line up alongside Order of Merit leader Jeong-Weon Ko, second and third ranked Antoine Aubion and Antoine Kuoch, as well as Leo Mathard and Paul Foulquie, who claimed back-to-back victories in Scotland last year. Continue reading →

PRETORIA, 25 January 2015 – Rustenburg amateur Theunie Bezuidenhout put on a classy performance at Pretoria Country Club to close out victory in the weather-affected Gauteng North Open Stroke Play on Sunday.

Just three months after he defeated South Africa’s number two ranked Tristen Strydom in a sudden-death play-off for the prestigious PWC GNGU Silver Salver title, the 19-year-old North West golfer was in ascendancy again in his adopted province.

Bezuidenhout picked up where he left off with a five-under-par 67 to take the first round lead and kept in touch with a 72 to trail by one stroke from Paul Boshoff in the second round.

He surged to a five stroke lead with another superb 67 in the third round and still led by the same margin through 16 holes in the final round when play was suspended at 16h15 due to lightning storms. Continue reading →

PRETORIA, 24 January 2015 – South Africa’s number one junior Paul Boshoff finished birdie-birdie at Pretoria Country Club to sit on top of the international pile at the end of the second round at the Gauteng North Open Stroke Play Championship on Saturday.

The 18-year-old Ekurhuleni golfer overcame a soft bogey on each nine with six birdies to register a four-under-par 68 for a one stroke lead on six under 138.

Overnight leader Theunie Bezuidenhout and current Gauteng North Silver Salver holder stayed in touch with a 72.

The Rustenburg golfer edged into second ahead of local favourite Teaghan Gauche and 2014 Scottish Boys Match Play and Stroke Play champion Ewen Ferguson, who posted respective rounds of 72 and 70. Continue reading →