Challenge Cup to display talent

Ryan Dreyer, Glacier SA Amateur, tees up for Central GautengThe South African Challenge Cup interprovincial, which gets under way at Port Elizabeth Golf Club on Tuesday, will showcase some of country’s most promising talent over the next three days.

The tournament runs until Thursday and will feature eight-man teams from Central Gauteng, Western Province, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng North and a Saga President’s squad.

The format of the tournament is four rounds of matchplay with singles on Tuesday and Thursday and foursomes and betterball on Wednesday. The event will not follow the normal route of an interprovincial where each team plays each other.

Instead, in each round, a player from one team will play against a representative from any other team. Each match won scores the team one point with a total of 24 points being available to each side. The team with the most points at the end of the three days will be declared the winner.

Essentially, the players are individuals that are bordering on senior provincial selection and it is a great way for them to gain experience.

Central Gauteng are being tipped for honours due to the fact that they have strength from player one through eight. However, Western Province and Gauteng North could make life difficult for the favourites. The President’s team is much stronger than usual and may give some teams a fright.

The Eastern Cape team consists of four players each from Eastern Province and Border. The EP members are Johan Vorster, Ray Taverner, Charl Nortier and Chad Evans while Border’s representatives are Dario Knock, Michael Lotz, Justin Meister and Shaun Brock.

South African Golf Association assistant executive director Neil Homann, a former professional golfer, expects a good contest.

“We have some good sides here and competition should tight. I’m very impressed with the condition of Port Elizabeth Golf Club. I haven’t played here since the FNB Classic in 1998 and I love what they’ve done to the course with the new bunkers and greens,” said Homann.

(copy courtesy: The Herald, Port Elizabeth)

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