Edwards is the man to watch
Former SA Amateur champion and the leading entrant on the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), Nigel Edwards, will start as favourite to win the 2008 Glacier SA Amateur Golf Championship which tees off at Royal Durban Golf Club tomorrow.
The 39 year performance director of the Golf Union of Wales is currently ranked 26 on the latest WAGR. “I had a successful year last year,” said Edwards. “I finished 4th in the European Nations Cup and 2nd in the Royal Lytham Trophy along with some other good performances which has resulted in my current ranking.”
The 2006 SA Amateur Champion warned that the Royal Durban Golf Club layout will be challenging, especially if the wind blows. “You are going to have to keep the ball on the fairway and putt well,” explained the Welshman who plays his golf out of the Whitchurch Golf Club in Cardiff. He said that the rough is extremely punishing and that any ball straying off the fairway is going to be severely punished.
Edwards’ job enables him to travel the world as manager of the younger players under his wing. His trip to South Africa is no different. Accompanying him are three other players part of the Welsh Elite men’s team, they are Craig Evans, Zac Gould and Ben Westgate.
The South African Golf Association’s (SAGA) premier championship is made up of 36 hole Stroke Play qualifying rounds. On conclusion of Qualifying Round, the top 64 players go through to play match play. The winner of the match play will be crowned the Glacier SA Amateur champion for 2008.
Running concurrent to the 36 hole Stroke Play Qualifying Round is an International Teams Event. Eight countries are playing, each country represented by two players, both scores count for both rounds. Edwards will be partnered by Craig Evans, the Welsh team starting favourites.
Germany, Denmark, Zambia, Zimbabwe, England and Namibia have entered teams to participate.
The South African team will be represented by inform Jacques Blaauw, the current SA Amateur Stroke Play Champion, and Dylan Frittelli, currently the SAGA’s top ranked player.