Author name: michael

Jade Buitendag’s putter caught fire on the back-nine of the Rocklands Course at Country Club Johannesburg and paved his way into the match play phase of this year’s Sanlam SA Amateur Championship. The 18-year-old East London golfer carded a two-under-par 70 that lifted him into a share for second at five-under alongside Southern Cape’s Jovan Rebula, who overcame club selection and accuracy issues to produce a five under 67. The pair trail overnight leader Haydn Porteous by one shot and, although the gap could widen and players in the afternoon could overtake them, the duo is certain of their match play spots.

Haydn Porteous’s early 66 at Country Club Johannesburg held up for the first round lead in the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship Qualifier, but England’s Toby Tree and George golfer Andrew Light were nipping at his heels at the end of the day. The 18-year-old Gauteng standout has put himself in prime position to make a strong run for amateur golf’s most prestigious title with eight birdies at the 7,009m Rocklands course, but Porteous will carry a slender one shot lead into Monday’s final round.

Haydn Porteous fired an opening six-under-par 66 at Country Club Johannesburg’s Rocklands course to set the early target today’s first round of a 36-hole Stroke Play qualifier for the Sanlam SA Amateur Championship. On a day when gentle weather conditions should suggest otherwise, the Modderfontein standout was one of only eight players in the morning field to complete the first round under par. The country’s number one amateur finished one stroke clear of England’s Toby Tree and Andrew Light from Kingswood Golf Estate in George.

Winning the Sanlam South African Amateur Match Play title is the crowning glory for any South African amateur golfer. And, after foreigners claimed the last three championships, the South African contingent are determined to bring the trophy home. “We really need to step up this year,” said reigning SA Stroke Play champion Haydn Porteous ahead of the Stroke Play qualifier, which tees off at Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday. “The match play format is tough, because anything can happen, but I believe South Africa has the talent and determination this year to make sure the trophy comes home.”

South Africa’s number one amateur Haydn Porteous hopes to add his name to an exclusive list of players when he tees it up at Sanlam SA Amateur Championship at Country Club Johannesburg next week.

Porteous claimed back-to-back victories in the SA Strokeplay at Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort and Spa this month and hopes to add his name to the six players who have managed to win the elusive ‘double’ in the same calendar year.

Haydn Porteous became only the third player in the history of the South African Stroke Play Championship to defend his title at the Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort and Spa on Friday.
Porteous closed with a final round of 69 to win by two strokes on 13-under-par 275. Werner Ferreira took second place on 11 under with a final round of 69, and Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti finished third on 10 under with a closing 70. The 18-year-old Gauteng Central golfer joins Dale Hayes (1969 and 1970) and David Suddards (1978 and 1979) as the only players to have defended their national Stroke Play titles.

School was a strong wind and a prickly golf course in Thursday’s third round of the South African Stroke Play Championship. And it appears Haydn Porteous took his lessons well. The South African number one and defending champion in this event signed for a two-under 70 at the Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort and Spa to lead the field on 10 under par, two strokes clear of Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti, Australia’s Brady Watt and South African Werner Ferreira.