Archive – Men

South Africa’s top amateurs are set to face strong international opposition in this year’s South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship, which tees off at Oubaai Golf Club from 12-15 February. South African number one and defending champion Haydn Porteous will spearhead the local challenge alongside his Ten Nations Cup teammates Zander Lombard, Louis Taylor and Dylan Raubenheimer, ranked second, fifth and seventh respectively on the current South African Golf Association’s (SAGA) rankings.

It came right down to the wire, but Australia held their nerve and a spirited challenge from New Zealand to complete a historic victory at the inaugural Ten Nations Cup at Kingswood Golf Estate in George on Saturday.

Brady Watt, Lucas Herbert, Ryan Ruffles and Geoff Drakeford combined to win the international team’s competition with a 38-under-par total of 826, finishing just a single shot clear of the Kiwis.

Moving day in Friday’s third round of the Ten Nations Cup at Kingswood Golf Estate saw Australia take command, New Zealand make a move, Argentina cruise into contention and South Africa off the rocks.

Victoria’s 14-year-old Ryan Ruffles began the charge for Australia, riding a hot putter to six birdies and an eagle to cover the 6,123m layout in a blistering seven-under-par 65. Team mates Geoff Drakeford and Brady Ward contributed a pair of 69s for a third round total of 13 under 203 that lifted the side into pole position on 27-under-par 621.

Richard Sterne might be hogging the headlines after a birdie-rich 63 to lead the Joburg Open, but top Australian amateur Brady Watt went one better than the five-time European Tour winner in today’s second round of the Ten Nations Cup in George.

The 22-year-old Royal Perth golfer blitzed the par-72 layout at Kingswood Golf Estate in 12 pars, six birdies and two eagles for a 10 under 62 to take command of the individual leaderboard.

Watt’s superb effort – supported by 70s from team-mates Geoff Drakeford, Lucas Herbert and Ryan Ruffels – also helped Australia make up a 14 shot deficit with a total score of 202 that bumped the team into a share of the overall lead with Scotland on 14-under-418.

Wednesday’s opening round of the inaugural Ten Nations Cup in George delivered a promising start for New Zealand, flair from French teenager Paul Ellisade, frustration for the host nation and an 18^th hole ace that wiped out a maddening round for English amateur Jamie Rutherford.

At one stage or the other, all nine competing nations had a taste of the lead at Kingswood Golf Estate, but in the closing stages, it was the Kiwis that edged ahead to top the leaderboard at seven-under-par 209, two shots clear of Scotland.

Top South African golfers Haydn Porteous, Zander Lombard, Dylan Raubenheimer and Louis Taylor have declared themselves ready to challenge for a home victory at the inaugural Ten Nations Cup in George this week.

The Ten Nations Cup is an amalgamation of the biennial Four Nations Cup and the Southern Cross Trophy and will be contested between South Africa, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and Colombia at Kingswood Country Club from 6-9 February.

The unforgiving nature of match play always dishes up a certain amount of surprises and, so far, this year’s Sanlam SA Amateur Championship has enjoyed it’s fair share of the unexpected.

A field of 144 hopeful amateurs began the chase for the country’s most prestigious amateur title on Sunday. As dusk fell on the third round at Country Club Johannesburg, there just eight left standing and stories of lucky bounces, cruel twists of fate and the tales of dreams unfulfilled.

Unheralded George golfer Andrew Light ended Jovan Rebula’s dream run, while Louis Taylor had the unenviable task of knocking out his twin brother Eddie 2&1 to make the final eight and a collusion course will leave only one Scot the opportunity to claim a much-talked-about hat-trick.

Leading South African amateurs Haydn Porteous, Zander Lombard, Dylan Raubenheimer and Louis Taylor will be flying the flag for the country in the inaugural Ten Nations Cup in George this February.

The international teams event is an amalgamation of the Four Nations Cup and the Southern Cross Trophy and will be staged at the Kingswood Golf Estate from 6-9 February. The tournament has drawn entries from top international teams including England, Scotland, Ireland, France, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and Colombia.