Porteous still on course for KZN Amateur Double glory
Haydn Porteous remains on course for his second successive KwaZulu-Natal Amateur Championship victory after reaching the quarterfinals at Umhlali Country Club.
The defending champion’s mantle is already groaning under the weight of eight victories this season, but that won’t stop the 18-year-old Modderfontein golfer from adding to his haul. After lifting the Stroke Play title for a second time in a row with a three shot victory on Wednesday, the country’s number one ranked amateur continued his winning march with victories in the first and second rounds of the match play.
The 18-year-old knocked out Phumlani Mkhoma from Port Shepstone 5 & 4 in round one and defeated Chris van der Merwe from Prince’s Grant 6 & 4 in the second.
Number two ranked Zander Lombard from Woodhill Country Club also booked his quarterfinal spot, alongside Ekurhuleni golfers, two-time winner of the Highveld Amateur Open champion NJ Arnoldi and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who became just the fifth player to win the elusive Western Province double earlier this month.
The other quarterfinalists include Bryce Bibby from Royal Durban, Eddie Taylor from Country Club Johannesburg, Ryan Birnie from Durban Country Club and Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s Andy Dill.
Lombard defeated Durban Country Club’s Elton James 4 & 2 in the first round and Chris van der Merwe from Prince’s Grant 6 & 4 in round two.
Arnoldi from Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate beat local hope Greg Upneck 1-up to make the quarterfinals after beating Burger Heckroodt from Schoemans Park 3 & 2.
Nigel’s Bezuidenhout got past Randpark’s Brent Edgar 3 & 2 in the first round and downed Werner van Wyk from Glenvista Country Club 7 & 6 in the second.
Bibby defeated fellow Shark Gavin Sole 1-up before he knocked out Andrew Light from Mossel Bay at the 19th hole in round two.
Taylor needed six extra holes in the first round to eliminate Martin Rohwer from Kloof, but made short work of Werner van Niekerk, sending the Wingate Park player packing 4 & 3.
Birnie got past Callum Mowat from Modderfontein Golf Club 3 & 2 before defeating Polokwane’s Hilton Hughes 2 & 1 to advance to the last eight.
Click HERE to see the Stroke Play results.
Click HERE to see the Match Play scoring and results.