Fourth SA High School Champs wide open

Grey College and Goudveld High School will be counting on home course advantage to carry them to victory in the fourth edition of the SA High School Championship in Bloemfontein this weekend.

This year’s event drew a record entry of 20 teams, however, the absence of defending champions King Edward VII School (KES) and 2012 winners Waterkloof High School has left the tournament wide open.

Top ranked Free State amateur Attie van Wyk will lead the four-man Grey College side into battle.

“Attie, Therion Nel, Steven le Roux and Ruan Pretorius are all members of Bloemfontein Golf Club, and they will be counting on their home course advantage,” said Free State Golf Union Junior Golf Coordinator, Nicky Nel.

“Attie is our topped ranked junior and was a Glacier Junior Series winner in 2013. Therion is the club champion at Bloemfontein Golf Club and his local knowledge will come in handy.”

Grey College are old hands, having participated in the previous editions, however, Goudveld High School will be making their debut in the national team championship.

The Welkom-based school qualified via in the Northern Free-State league and defeated two other schools in the Free State league finals to book their berth in the championship

“We are really excited to have two teams, especially this young side from Goudveld,” Nel said.

“None of the players are even in grade 12 yet. They have two grade 11s and two grade 10s, so it is a fantastic opportunity for these young players to gain experience.”

The Free State sides could have their job cut out to hold off 2011 winners, Tuks Sport High School.

“We have a great team this year and we are confident that they will give their best effort to compete for the title,” said team manager, Johan Steyn.

“Marco Steyn recently broke into the top 20 of the South African Golf Association’s Senior Rankings after winning the Pro-Shop Northern Amateur Stroke Play earlier month and also reaching the semi-finals of the match play section.

“Albert Venter is coming into the event with great form after winning the most recent Glacier Junior Series at Middelburg Golf Club. Dylan Naidoo represented Central Gauteng in the SA U-23 Inter-Provincial and Sentanio Minnie is one our up-and-coming stars.”

A number of other debutants will also be gunning for success, including Hilton College and Michael House from KwaZulu-Natal, Rundle College and Glenwood House from the Southern Cape and Curro Aurora from Central Gauteng.

The championship celebrates its fourth year under the auspices of the South African Golf Association (SAGA).

“Each union may enter two school teams, and the qualifying schools can be determined either through local school leagues or a qualifying tournament, as deemed appropriate by the union,” said SAGA Golf Integration Manager, Eden Thompson.

“We are absolutely delighted that this year’s SA High School Championship has drawn such incredible interest and is so well supported. The championship is an extension of the great work that is being done in developing the game among the juniors golfers in South Africa.”

2014 SA High Schools Championship – Teams
High School Secunda (Mpumalanga)
Grey College (Free State)
Reddam House (Western Province)
Fairmont High School (Western Province)
Ben Viljoen High School (Limpopo)
DF Malherbe High School (Eastern Province)
Volkskool High (North West Province)
Paarl Boys High (Boland)
Goudeveld High School (Free State)
Middelburg Technical High School (Mpumalanga)
Glenwood House (Southern Cape)
Tuks Sport High School (Gauteng North)
Curro Aurora (Central Gauteng)
Paarl Gymnasium (Boland)
Hudson Park High School (Border)
Pretoria Boys High (Gauteng North)
Rundle College (Southern Cape)
Hilton College (KwaZulu-Natal)
Michael House (KwaZulu-Natal)
St Sithians (Central Gauteng)

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.

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