TSHWANE, 5 March 2015 – Southern Cape’s Jovan Rebula has one hand on the Match Play trophy at the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship after beating gritty competitor Calum Fyfe from Scotland 1-up in their semi-final at Silver Lakes Golf Estate on Thursday.

The 17-year-old George golfer will face off against Danny Young, the last Scot standing, who ousted Durbanville’s Adam Wood 2 & 1.

To his credit, Rebula did not trail at any point during his tightly-contested skirmish with the Cawder Golf Club golfer, however, Fyfe rallied to level the match at the 12th hole. Continue reading →

TSHWANE, 4 March 2015 – Southern Cape’s Jovan Rebula is looking to add the Match Play title to his already impressive list of victories at the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship after making it through to the quarterfinal at Silver Lakes Golf Estate on Wednesday.

The 2014 Proudfoot Trophy winner beat Gordon Neale from Dove Canyon 3 & 2 to advance to the top 16 and defeated 36-year-old Gareth Clements from Country Club Johannesburg 1-up to reach the quarter-finals.

“I’m very satisfied with my golf going into the quarters,” Rebula said. “It’s going a bit better than it went in the Stroke Play Qualifier. I’m holing a few more putts now.” Continue reading →

 TSHWANE, 4 March 2015 – South African number two ranked player Jason Smith safely navigated his way into the last 16 of the Match Play at the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship at Silver Lakes Golf Estate on Wednesday morning.

As the top-ranked SA player left in the draw, the former SA Stroke Play champion ousted fellow Gauteng North amateur Philip Kruse 5&4 with some solid play which yielded four birdies and no drops in a remarkably consistent round of knockout golf.

“I just hit some fairways, greens and made some putts,” said the Irene Golf Club golfer.

“The first two birdies I made were from outside three metres. I waited for him to make mistakes and made my birdies when I had the chance.” Continue reading →

TSHWANE (3 March 2015) – The top two seeds crashed out to two Gauteng North players in the first round of the Match Play at the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship at Silver Lakes Golf Estate on Tuesday.

Both the Proudfoot Trophy winner, Greig Marchbank from Scotland, and Tristen Strydom, the runner-up in the 36-hole qualifying event, fell to unexpected defeats, leaving the knockout format wide open for the 32 remaining players.

Strydom, South Africa’s number one ranked amateur, was convincingly beaten by Pretoria Golf Club player Adriel Poonan 3&1. Continue reading →

TSHWANE (3 March 2015) – South Africa’s Teaghan Gauche defeated Proudfoot Trophy winner Greig Marchbank of Scotland 2&1 in the first round of the Match Play at the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship at Silver Lakes Golf Estate on Tuesday.

Both players were involved in a playoff on Monday.

Marchbank beat South Africa’s number one ranked Tristen Strydom to win the 36-hole stroke play qualifier, while Wingate Park’s Gauche had to birdie the first playoff hole to beat out five other players for the final 64^th spot in the Match Play.

Gauche sprinted out of the blocks and was three up through four holes with a majestic eagle two at the par-four fourth hole.

“I just hit an amazing tee shot with my driver, which ended up three foot from the hole,” Gauche said. Continue reading →

Pretoria Country Club golfer Keegan de Lange vaulted into a share of the lead at five-under-par at the completion of the rain-affected first round of the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship at Silver Lakes Golf Estate on Monday.

Lighting and thunder brought a premature close to play on Sunday, but after play resuming at 6.30am, the 18-year-old Gauteng North golfer finished off his round in fine fashion with two birdies and an eagle on the par five 18th.

De Lange began his round with three birdies on his opening nine, but bogeyed both par threes down the home straight. The drops were offset by his fast finish, though, and De Lange joined early pacesetters Greig Marchbank and Daniel Young from Scotland in pole position.

The 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifier for the Proudfoot Trophy will determine the top 64 players that advance to the Match Play championship. Continue reading →

TSHWANE (1 March 2015) – The strong Scottish contingent made their presence felt on day one of the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship before lighting and thunder brought a premature close to proceedings at Silver Lakes Golf Estate on Sunday.

Greig Marchbank and Daniel Young set the pace at five-under-par 67, while the Boland’s Johan Germishuys leads the local challenge in the 144-man field at four under 68.

Scotland features prominently in the top 10, with Calum Fyfe and Ewen Ferguson lurking a single stroke adrift on four under.

The 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifier for the Proudfoot Trophy will determine the top 64 players that advance to the Match Play championship.

Young said his course management was pivotal to securing a notable first-round score.

“We’re all playing really well,” said the 23-year-old Craigie Hill golfer who ranks 231^st in the world.

“We all get along well and it’s good to see most of the Scots at the top of the board. It was good strategy, I just played smart and hit a lot of good iron shots into the pins you could get at. Continue reading →