SA Players struggle in Amateur Championship 1st Round

It was a bad day for most of the South Africans who teed up in today’s first round, of the 36 hole stroke play Qualifying, of the 114th Amateur Championship, being played at two golf courses, Formby and West Lancashire Golf Clubs, just north of Liverpool, England.

Only three of the eleven South Africans participating appear to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the match play. They are Adrian Ford (73), Derik Ferreira (73) and Steven Ferreira (74). All the others will be hoping for something extraordinary tomorrow if they are to finish in 64th place and ties overall and in so doing go through to the match play.

All three leading South Africans played at Formby Golf Club today where Australian Matt Jager recorded the best round, a 66, six under par.

Leading the Amateur Championship is a 16 year old Italian from Verona. Matteo Manassero, playing at West Lancashire, recorded a seven under par 65.

On the first round overall leaderboard, Ford and Ferreira find themselves in tied in 57th place with twenty five other players. Steven Ferreira is tied in 87th place.

The biggest disappointment was that of Nicol van Wyk. A lot was expected of the 24 year old Western Province amateur, however, playing at West Lancashire, he recorded a seven over par 79 to find himself well off the pace, tied in 220th place.

Another disappointing performance was that of the Glacier SA Amateur Champion, Ryan Dreyer. The Central Gauteng amateur, playing at West Lancashire, recorded a five over par 77. He is tied on 165th place along with twenty seven other players.

Defending champion Renier Saxton (Netherlands) started solidly recording 70, two under par, at Formby Golf Club.

Tomorrow the final Qualifying round is played. The match play will be played at Formby Golf Club only. All matches are over 18 holes with the final, scheduled to be played on Saturday (20th June), being decided over 36 holes.

Amateur Championship: 1st Round Overall Leaders
(F – indicates played today’s round at Formsby Golf Club and W – West Lancashire Golf Club)
(Par on both courses is 72).

65 – Matteo Manassero (ITA) (W)
66 – Matt Jager (AUS) (F)
67 – Nigel Edwards (WAL) (W)
68 – Daan Huizing (NED) (F), Stephan Jaeger (GER) (W), David Markle (GER) (W), Sam Hutsby (ENG) (F), Jesper Kennegard (SWE) (F)

South African players’ scores
73 – Adrian Ford (F), Derik Ferreira (F)
74 – Steven Ferreira (F)
77 – Ryan Clatworthy (F), Ryan Dreyer (W)
78 – Mark Fensham (W), Jake Redman (W)
79 – Michael Loppnow (F), Nicol van Wyk (W)
81 – Rae Mackie (W)
82 – Yubin Jung (W)