Lombard claims top 25 finish at St Andrews
Tshwane golfer Zander Lombard slipped from contention in the final round to tie for 22nd at the St Andrews Links Trophy on Sunday, where England’s Neil Raymond claimed a two shot victory over compatriots Max Orrin, Ryan Evans and Nathan Kimsey.
The 27-year-old Englishman compiled rounds of 72-73-68-69 for a four-round total of six-under 282.
Raymond, the third Englishman to win the title in the last four years, added the St. Andrews Links Trophy to the two Brabazon Trophy titles he has won the last two years.
Lombard arrived in Scotland after winning the KwaZulu-Natal Amateur Championship and finishing second in the Stroke Play Qualifier.
South Africa’s number two ranked amateur was in good shape after an opening 71 at the Jubilee course and a 73 at the Old Course at St Andrews left him in a tie for 11th in prestigious event.
The 18-year-old looked on course to claim a top 10 finish after completing the first 18 holes of the 36-hole final in 72 strokes, but he slipped to a tie for 22nd on five-over-par 293 after closing with a final round 77.
The cut, which fell at four-over-par 148, resulted in a short week for South Africa’s number one ranked amateur, Haydn Porteous and Fancourt’s Tom Watson.
Modderfontein’s Porteous recovered well from an opening 80 to shoot a one under 71 at the Old Course, but his total of 151 still left him three shots over the cut-line. Watson missed on 157 after rounds of 78 and 79.
Both Lombard and Porteous will have some time to fine tune their games before teeing it up in the prestigious British Amateur Championship that starts at Royal Cinque Ports on June 17th.