SA takes early lead over Scots at Leopard Creek
The South African squad took a slender one point lead after the morning section matches concluded in the first round of the Test against a Scottish Elite Squad side at Leopard Creek, near Malelane.
This is the third annual Test between South Africa’s leading amateurs and a Scottish side comprising seven players of the Scottish Elite Squad. The local side has won The Leopard Trophy for two years running.
The morning foursomes matches delivered a win, halve and loss for South Africa before the country’s leading amateur Brandon Stone whipped Conor O’Neil 5 and 4 to put the Proteas 2½ to 1½ ahead against the fully loaded Scottish team.
Although recently crowned SA Stroke Play champion Haydn Porteous and Southern Cape’s Shaun Smith lost their opening foursomes, the pair kept pace with Fraser McKenna and Scott Crichton for 17 holes before the Scots were able to force the win at the last hole.
Then SA number three CJ du Plessis from Limpopo and Gauteng North debutant Zander Lombard retaliated to level the leaderboard with a solid 3 and 1 victory over James White and Brian Soutar.
Debutants JP Strydom from Western Province and Boland golfer Drikus Bruyns put up a majestic fight against Paul Shields and Daniel Kay over the last three holes, forcing the visitors to concede at the 18th to halve the match.
This afternoon will see the seven-man SA side tee it up in Singles Matches.
SINGLES DRAW (SA vs SCOTLAND):
11h30 Brandon Stone vs Scott Crichton
11h38 Haydn Porteous vs Paul Shields
11h46 CJ du Plessis vs Fraser McKenna
11h54 Shaun Smith vs Daniel Kay
12h02 Zander Lombard vs Brian Soutar
12h10 Drikus Bruyns vs Connor O’Neil
12h18 JP Strydom vs James White
For the first round scores, click here