TWENTY COUNTRIES REPRESENTED IN KENAKO SA WORLD JUNIORS

Players from twenty countries, including South Africa, have entered the KeNako South African World Juniors, according to Erica Lefson, the Tournament Director.

The 54 hole stroke play tournament, which is to be played from 8 to 10 March 2011 at Kingswood Golf Estate in George, has attracted entries from eighty five boys and thirty girls all of whom are nineteen years of age or younger.

One of the entrants is USA’s Daniela Lendl, daughter of tennis champion Ivan Lendl, pictured here.

“Almost half the boys entries are made up of players from sixteen countries, that is excluding South Africa,” reported Lefson. “Countries with one or more player entered include Germany, Poland, Australia, Namibia, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, India, Mexico, Botswana, Hungary, Denmark, Kenya and even Iceland.”

“It is almost the same regarding the girls entries as it is with the men. Over one third of the field is made up of players from Australia, South Korea, Sweden, Namibia, Austria, United States of America, Zambia and Denmark,” said Lefson.

“This is the inaugural staging of a World Junior Golf Series tournament in South Africa,” said Ron Boon, chairman of KeNako Golf and Sport Academy in George, and the principle sponsor of tournament. “We are particularly proud of the fact that so many international players have entered. This is the first of a three year arrangement with the World Junior Golf Foundation. We are also working closely with the Eden District Municipality in order to provide an unforgettable experience for all our participants.”

The tournament includes an international team event in which two players represent a country in both the boys and girls competitions. “Both players scores count in each of the three rounds. The lowest aggregate wins,” explained Lefson.

“There will be seventeen international boys teams participating in the team competition. South Africa, Germany and Poland will each have three teams and Australia, Namibia, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Iceland will have one team each,” said Lefson.

“In the girls team competition we have South Africa with two teams competing against a team from each of Australia, South Korea and Sweden,” concluded Erica Lefson.

The tournament commenced with an Am Am yesterday, Sunday 6 March, in which entrants in the KeNako South African World Juniors played with three invited guests. Today is the official practice round. The 54 hole stroke play tournament commences on Tuesday with players playing eighteen holes each day for three days.

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