A M AT E U R N E W S
Teen Lamprecht claims historic Irish victory Last month the crowds at County Louth got an eyeful of that same blend of determination and shot-making when he became the youngest champion and the first foreign winner in the 76-year history of the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship. Lamprecht carded rounds of 66, 68 and 69 to take a one-shot lead into the final round. During his final trip around the Baltray Links, the GolfRSA National Squad player dropped shots and surrendered the lead. Each time he bounced back with a birdie. t is rare to see a young golfer capitalise on good shots, but also rebound after poor play. That is why golf pundits should keep an eye on South African Christo Lamprecht in the future.
Par at the final hole would have been enough to seal victory, but Lamprecht hit a spectacular chip-and-putt for birdie. A final round one-under 71 saw him win wire-to-wire on 14-under 174, with a two-stroke victory over Irish hopeful Mark Power.
The 17-year-old George golfer demonstrated maturity beyond his years to become the youngest-ever winner of the Sanlam SA Amateur at Humewood in 2017.
“When I won the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship, it was the biggest achievement of my career, but this is right up there,” said Lamprecht, who turned 17 in January.
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Nienaber medals as SA fields strong challenge in Scotland
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obby Cole is the one and only South African winner in the 123-year history of the Amateur Championship, but South Africa’s leading amateur Wilco Nienaber wrote his own bit of history when he won the stroke play qualifier in Scotlandat the end of June.
Play Championship. He bagged two victories at home this season and came agonisingly close to a third international title when he lost in a play-off at the Brabazon Trophy.
The 18-year-old GolfRSA National Squad player became the first South African medallist since qualifying was introduced in 1983 when he beat world number five Victor Hovland from Norway by two strokes in the 123rd edition at Royal Aberdeen. Nienaber led the 288-strong field with a first round four-under 66 at the Murcar Links and went wire-to-wire with a four-under 67 at Royal Aberdeen to triumph on eight-under 133.
Six of the best and smiles all-round! The six GolfRSA National Squad players who reached the knockout stages of the 123rd Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen in Scotland.
A 12-time winner in 2017, Nienaber vaulted to number one after his third place finish in the South African Stroke
Left to right: Jovan Rebula, Wilco Nienaber, Malcolm Mitchell, Therion Nel, Matt Saulez and Luca Filippi.
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July | August 2018