SAINT GILLES LES HAUTS, Reunion (27 March 2016) – Gauteng North’s Danielle du Toit leads a strong South African challenge in the Ladies Championship at the 2016 World Amateur Golf Audi Reunion, while Western Province amateur Michael Sherriff finished within striking distance of the first round pacesetter in the Mens Championship on Reunion Island.

Du Toit fired a three-under-par 69 at the magnificent Golf Du Bassin Blue to lead the Ladies competition.

The 17-year-old Pretoria junior opened up a four stroke lead over South African top ranked junior and defending champion Woo-Ju Son from Central Gauteng and finished seven shot clear of KwaZulu-Natal’s Brittney-Fay Berger in third.

French amateur Marie-Ange Michaud carded a 78 to slip into fourth and leads by two from local favourite Jade Rousseau, the champion in 2014 and runner-up last year.

Meanwhile Sherriff posted an even-par 72 to finish four shots behind local professional, Louis Bilbault.

The 18-year-old Bellville amateur leads by one from Gauteng North junior Keegan Mclahlan and is two shots clear of 2016 African Amateur Stroke Play champion Albert Venter from Gauteng North and Bassin Blue’s Johan Mouniama.

Fellow Gauteng North amateur Andrew van der Knaap moved into sixth with a three over 75.

Other South Africans in the Mens Championship include Steven Cole (79), Charles Erasmus (88) and Johan Struwig (88).

A total of 86 players from Reunion, South Africa, Seychelles and Mauritius teed off in the two A-Division competitions at the fifth World Amateur Audi Reunion.

LADIES A-DIVISION (Top Five)
69 Danielle du Toit RSA
73 Woo-Jo Son RSA
76 Brittney Fay Berger RSA
78 Marie-Ange Michaud REU
80 Jade Rousseau REU

MENS A-DIVISION (Top 10)
68 Louis Bilbault REU
72 Michael Sherriff RSA
73 Keegan Mclachlan RSA
74 Albert Venter RSA; Johan Mouniama REU
76 Jimmy Fruteau REU; Jean Thierry Fock REU
77 Loic Heurtin REU; Guillaume Jouque REU

PHOTO – Danielle du Toit; credit WGSA