Ford and Ferreira tee up for South Africa

From the left, Adrian Ford and Derik FerreiraDerik Ferreira (Gauteng North) and Adrian Ford (Western Province) will tee up for South Africa in the international amateur team event, known as the Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup, which starts tomorrow (Thursday) at the Los Lagartos Country Club, outside Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 72 hole stroke play tournament, staged annually for the last 12 years, is both a team and individual competition. In the team competition, two players to each international team, both scores count in each of the four rounds.

A top international field has been assembled attracting entries from some of the world’s top amateur golf playing nations which include Scotland, who recently won the World Amateur Team Championship, Australia, defending champions, England, Wales and neighbouring countries Peru, Colombia, Brazil and hosts Argentina.

The pairing of Ferreira and Ford, who are ranked 2nd and 4th respectively on the latest South African Golf Association Player Rankings, will be looking to improve on last year’s national team who finished fifth. That competition was dominated by the team from Australia.

Before departing on Sunday Adrian Ford, who is a member of the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation and plays his golf out of Durbanville Golf Club in Cape Town, was in a confident mood. “I have been playing well of late. Having not played in Argentina before it will be a new experience for me however I look forward to it,” said the 21 year old amateur.

Ford won the Eastern Province Stroke Play, three weeks ago, by eight shots. At the end of September he was one of the standout players in the successful Western Province team in the SA Inter Provincial Tournament played at Hermanus Golf Club, earning himself the most valued player status, winning the most number of points from his matches.

Derik Ferreira has not played much tournament golf over the last weeks but, according to the 19 year old Centurion Country Club member, has been practicing hard. “I have been preparing for this trip and am really looking forward to competing against an international field,” he said.

This is the third occasion that both will be awarded national colours this year, the first two being the test match against the French, in France, and the Zone VI, played in Zambia earlier this year.

Both players have resisted the temptation of turning professional this year stating similar reasons, their desire to get more international competition experience.

The four day tournament, with 18 holes being played each day, concludes on Sunday.

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