Article by Lali Stander | Photos by Ernest Blignault
Top-seeded Jack Dyer and Megan Streicher look to be the players to beat as the duo marched on to the quarter-finals of the South African Amateur Championships at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club held on 17 February.
England’s Dyer – with compatriot and first-round casualty Zach Chegwidden on the bag – saw off Centurion’s Ernest Ludick two and one in the morning round before comfortably beating Belgium’s Jean de Wouters d’Oplinter four and three on the Wednesday afternoon.
After going down early to Ludick, it was a timely pep talk from his caddie that got the Boyce Hill golfer going.
“Sometimes when I try to stay relaxed and not let the nerves get the better of me, I lose a bit of focus,” said the England Golf Men’s A-Squad member. “Zach helped me to switch on and focus a bit more on every shot. It definitely worked because I was down early on against Ernest and when I made a birdie on eight to go one-up, that really got me going.”
Dyer would face Randpark’s Conner Mackenzie in the quarter-final.
Mackenzie beat Clive Palm four and two and followed that up with a two and one victory over Germany’s Constantin Unger.
On the West Course, Swellendam’s Streicher continued her quest to claim the SA Women’s Amateur double as she breezed into the quarter-finals with two comfortable wins.
After celebrating a one-shot victory in the SA Stroke Play Championship on the Tuesday, the 18-year-old dispatched Lize-Marie Prinsloo of Mossel Bay five and four in the opening round of the match play event. She followed it up with an equally comfortable four and three win over Demi Flanagan in the afternoon’s second round.
Next up for the country’s top-ranked junior is a quarter-final meeting with last year’s runner up Kyra van Kan, who overcame Cheslyn Jacobs five and four and Samantha Whateley seven and six.
As the women moved from the West Course to the East Course, Streicher was excited to go one step further than last year.
“I’m definitely excited that I made it past the first round,” she said. “I played pretty well and I’m happy that I’m hitting my woods a lot better. When I missed a green, I was able to up and down well. My caddie (dad Barry) is doing a great job of keeping me on point.”
South Africa’s No. 1-ranked pair Martin Vorster and Caitlyn Macnab – the women’s defending champion – also advanced to quarter finals, alongside fellow GolfRSA Squad members Kieron van Wyk, Christiaan Maas, Kiera Floyd and Kaylah Williams.
Vorster, the reigning SA Stroke Play champion, would take on Krugersdorp’s Simon du Plooy, Van Wyk come up against Paarl’s Ethan Smith and Maas will have had his work cut out against Durban Country Club’s Jonathan Broomhead.
“I played a lot better today,” said Maas, who booked his ticket to the last eight with two commanding victories.
The 17-year-old Pretoria Country Club golfer routed Jaco Anderson from Klerksdorp five and four and eliminated 2014 finalist Altin van der Merwe five and three.
“After I nearly blew it on the back nine yesterday, I knew I needed to stay focused throughout the whole game. Thankfully, I’ve started reading the lines and putting better, so I’m gaining confidence as the tournament progresses,” Maas said.
Van Wyk, ranked seventh on the SAGA amateur rankings, needed 38 holes to make the final eight.
The South African Golf Development Board graduate had to come from behind to beat Ryan Joyce one-up and, needing extra holes, saw off Centurion’s Francois van der Walt with a par-putt on the 20th hole.
“It was a difficult day, but a good day,” said Van Wyk. “I had to grind it out and I didn’t have my best stuff, but I got past the first round this year. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds for me.”
Still on the top half of the draw, a mouth-watering match between No 2-ranked Williams and big-hitting Floyd, the country’s No-5 ranked amateur, awaits.
Williams moved into the quarter-finals with wins over Amy Fletcher (four and three) and Stephanie Barbaglia (three and two), while Floyd negotiated her way past Eleonora Galletti (six and five) and Bobbi Brown (five and four).
On the other side of the draw, Macnab was in superb form as she set up a quarter-final meeting with 2018 champion Jordan Rothman. Macnab saw off Kim Turgut five and three in the opening round and followed that up with a six and four win over Pretoria Country Club’s Bronwyn Leigh Doeg, while Rothman beat Crystal Beukes six and five in the morning before comfortably winning eight and six against Oubaai’s Jasmine Furstenburg.
“I’m really happy with how I hit the ball today,” said the 18-year-old Serengeti golfer. “The putter warmed up a little, not a lot, but at least it went a little better on the greens. I’m looking forward to the East tomorrow. It should be a great match against Jordan.”
In the last of the quarter-finals, Cara Ford will take on 2021 Gauteng North Junior Girls champion Gabrielle Venter for a place in the final four.
The petite Randpark spitfire caused the upset of the day when she edged recent Eastern Province Border Championship winner Larissa du Preez one-up in the first round. She followed her giant-slaying performance with a fine three and one victory over Ebotse’s Kaylan Boshof.
Venter reached the quarter-finals last year and is looking to go one better after beating Liezl Smit two and one and edging Carmen Taljaard on the 19th hole.
