Izel, Lara and Michaela tee off in Germany

South Africa’s top three Junior Girls tee off today in round 1 of the Harder German Junior Masters, being played at Golfclub Gut Neuzenhof, Heddesheim in Germany. After their practice round yesterday (Monday), the three, Izel Pieters, Lara Weinstein and Michaela Fletcher are ready to compete in this prestigious international junior tournament. They are accompanied by WGSA President Cynthia Rayner.

Press Release from HGJM website

After the „South Africa World Juniors“ in George, the „Toya Polish Junior“ in Wroclaw (Breslau) and the cancellation of the „Islandic Junior Master due to the eruption of the volcano the „Harder German Junior Masters“ is the third tournament in the „World Junior Golf Series“. Junior Golfers will compete for the ninth year in succession in a tournament of the highest golfing standard from 2nd to 4th of August.

This year the HGJM will be honoured by the visit of Cynthia Rayner. As the new president of the „Women’s Golf South Africa“, she will be here to get an impression of the high quality and sample the atmosphere of one of the toughest international junior tournaments in Europe.

This year’s participation will be granted to Juniors born in or after 1992. The very high standard and the friendly and familiar atmosphere has certainly contributed to another record of more than 180 entry registrations. Compared to last year the number of participants permitted has been increased to 138 (93 young men and 45 young ladies). This represents quite an organizational challenge. As practised in previous years there will be no cut after the second day of the tournament.

Compared to last year the golfing quality has increased even further. Never before has there been a stronger field of participants at the start of the HGJM tournament. The entry handicap was set at -2.0 for the female juniors and -0.9 for the male juniors. About 70 percent of the players have a handicap of 0 or even better. Thus the cut for participation is -1.5 for the female juniors and -0.5 for the male juniors.

The junior players come from 21 different nations (Australia, Denmark, Germany, England, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia,Namibia, Netherlands Norway, Austria, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Hungary and the USA). For the first time players from Australia, Italy and Namibia are participating. All nations have sent players from their national teams including the German Junior National Team. Altogether there are 57 German participants (20 young women and 37 young men) playing.

Marina Stütz (hcp +2.5) fromAustria leads the female juniors. Last year playing as a junior at the „Ladies European Tour“ she achieved an excellent 15 place. Also participating is the winner of George, Claudia Lim (Australia) as well as a delegation of five players from the German Champion St. Leon-Rot. Leader of the male juniors is the South-African Haydn Porteous (hcp + 5.0). He is first in the Junior ranking of his country and third in the South-African Amateur ranking. He will be challenged by last year’s winner Sebastian Schwind (hcp +2.6) from the German Champion St. Leon-Rot. On Tuesday they all will start competing under the watchfull eyes of two referees from the German Golf Association for the much sought-after „Green Jackets“ a world wide unique award in junior golfing.

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