Lombard vs Neil in Amateur final
Pretoria amateur Zander Lombard faces the biggest challenge of his career when he goes up against former Scottish Boys champion, Bradley Neil, in the final of the Amateur Championship in Northern Ireland on Sunday.
Lombard defeated England’s Paul Howard 3 & 2 at the Royal Portrush Links to reach the semi-final, and reserved some of his greatest shots to get eliminate Sean Towndrow of England.
Lombard won the second hole with a birdie four, but was pegged back to all square at the turn after both players completed the loop in one-over-par 37.
The South African took the lead at the 14th hole and edged the game in his favour with a 1-up victory to book his berth in the final.
Neil defeated countryman Conner Syme 2 & 1 in the other semi-final.
The former Scottish Boys champion was 1-down after the second, but squared the match at the fourth. He took a commanding lead through 12 holes, but a spirited challenge from Syme at the 13th and 15th holes cut his 4-up advantage to two. Neil closed out the game with pars at the 16th and 17th holes.
Lombard will be pushing to emulate Bobby Cole, the only South African to have lifted the prestigious title and lay claim to the big prizes that accompany the trophy – a place in the starting line-up at the 2014 Open Championship and the 2015 Masters.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.