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 →

MIDRAND, 5 February 2016 – Jack Hume put on one of the classiest performances of the week with a flawless eight under 64 to close out a thrilling one stroke victory in the South African Stroke Play Championship at Blue Valley Golf and Country Club on Friday.

The Irishman produced a hat-trick of birdies over the closing holes in the final round to deny 2014 champion Jason Smith a repeat victory and edge out countryman Stuart Grehan and finished the week on a winning score of 19-under-269. Continue reading →

MIDRAND, 4 February 2016 – South Africa’s Jason Smith fought hard for a share of the third round lead with Ewen Ferguson from Scotland in the South African Stroke Play Championship on Thursday.

Smith overcome a nervous bogey to card a five under 67 at the Blue Valley Golf and Country Club finish at 17-under-par 199 with joint halfway leader Ferguson, who eagled the closing hole for a 68.

Ireland’s Stuart Grehan closed with back-to-back birdies and a 68 that left him one back of the co-leaders, while Tim Widing’s 69 will see the Swede start the final round three off the pace. Continue reading →