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Three of the country’s top amateurs will debut for South Africa when the SA team take up their title defence at the Africa Zone VI Golf Championships at Windhoek Golf and Country Club from 22-26 April. The new caps include reigning Sanlam SA Amateur champion Thriston Lawrence from Nelspruit, SA Amateur finalist Andrew Light from George and Eddie Taylor from Harrismith, who plays out of Country Club Johannesburg. Lawrence, Light and Taylor are ranked fourth, seventh and ninth on the South African Golf Association’s current rankings.

South Africa’s number four ranked amateur Louis Taylor erased the disappointment of having a brilliant run at the Sanlam SA Amateur cut short with his first podium finish at the Northern Amateur Match Play on Friday. Taylor, who defeated fellow Springbok Tertius van den Berg 2&1 in the 36-hole final at Randpark Golf Club, was thrilled to lay his hands on his first piece of silverware.

“This really makes up for the disappointment of the Sanlam SA Amateur,” the Harrismith golfer gushed. “It felt good to win and to do it here in my home union made it extra special. I’ve worked really hard on my consistency over the last 12 months. It’s great to see it finally pay off.”

South Africa’s number one ranked amateur Haydn Porteous was in blistering form at Randpark Golf Club this weekend, lifting the Northern Amateur title with a massive 14 shot winning margin.

Porteous blew away the opposition with rounds of 71-63-68-64 for a 72-hole total of 22-under-par 266. Scotland’s Jamie Savage finished a distant second on eight-under-par 280, with Stephan Cronje claimed third on seven under, while 16-year-old Sanlam SA Amateur champion, Thriston Lawrence, slipped into a share of fourth on six under 282 with Armandt Scholtz.

The South African team staved off a spirited final round attack from their Scottish opponents to lift the Leopard Trophy in the fourth annual clash between the two golfing nations Leopard Creek on Wednesday.

The crucial four winning points for their narrow 15.5 – 12.5 victory were secured by SA number two Zander Lombard, his playing partner Louis Taylor and new caps Gerlou Roux and Callum Mowat in what turned into a cliff hanger final round.

The South African team won the final round morning session 3-2 to extend their lead over Scotland to four points in this year’s Leopard Trophy at Leopard Creek, near Malelane.

The home side led Scotland 8.5 – 5.5 after winning two foursomes, six singles and halving one single in the first round of the fourth annual clash between the two golfing nations.

The Scottish squad will take a slender one point lead into the first round afternoon singles at the Leopard Trophy after edging ahead 3-2 in the morning section at Leopard Creek, near Malelane.

The four matches delivered two wins and two losses for both teams, but the Scots took the lead when 17-year-old Ewan Scott from St Andrews beat fourth-ranked Gerlou Roux from Bellville 7&6 in the single match that made up the morning session.

The South African team launched a spirited comeback in their afternoon singles to edge to a three point lead over Scotland in the first round of the Leopard Trophy at Leopard Creek, near Malelane.

The South African team and their Scottish opposite numbers have enjoyed some great moments since arriving at Leopard Creek on Sunday, but as in any rugby, cricket or soccer match of international proportions, the camaraderie and friendship of the last two days will be put aside when the two teams face off in the fourth annual Leopard Trophy on Tuesday.

South Africa won the inaugural two-day Test at the Gary Player-designed championship layout near Malelane in 2010 and triumphed again in 2011, but the Scots claimed the early advantage last year and, despite a spirited charge on day two, the Scots scored a close victory to deny the home side their chance at a hat-trick.