Casey Jarvis, Jordan Duminy and new caps Christiaan Maas and Christiaan Burke celebrated an emphatic victory on seven under par in the Team Competition at the African Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Leopard Creek on Wednesday.
The Team Competition is played concurrently with the first three rounds of the stroke play tournament, with three scores to count in each round.
The GolfRSA Senior Proteas combined for rounds of 217, 214 and 210 to lift the trophy by 22 strokes.
“It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” said the team’s manager, South African Golf Association Acting Vice-President Deon Nel, who himself also donned the green and gold for the first time. “What this team accomplished was way beyond my wildest expectations.
“These are a bunch of immensely talented youngsters who treasured the Protea on their chests, and really played for each other and their country. We knew it’s a team effort and not every day is going to be a great day for everyone. It’s a chain with a couple of links; today this one is strong, tomorrow it’s another player. At the end of the day, the team came out on top. We are so proud of them.”
Zach Chegwidden, Sam Bairstow and Callan Barrow secured second for Team England on 15-over, while 2022 SA Amateur finalist Rory Franssen, Jack Broun, Stephen Roger and Connor Wilson, combined for a 664 total that netted Team Scotland third place.
Team Kenya’s Adel Balala, Njoroge Kibugu and Taimur Haider Malik finished in fourth.
South Africa’s young Junior Team – Dan Bennett, Pascal Gunther, Hannes Strooh and Joshua Koekemoer – making their debut in national colours, went through a steep learning curve at the home of the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship. The quartet combined for a 679 total, finishing fifth overall.
Matthew Bramford, Tariro November, Michael Wallace and 2021 Nomads SA Boys U-17 champion Keegan Shutt teed it up for Zimbabwe, who finished on 722 in sixth place.
TEAM COMPETITION RESULT
641 - Team South Africa 217 Christiaan Maas 69 Casey Jarvis 70 Christiaan Burke 78; 214 Casey Jarvis 65 Jordan Duminy 72 Christiaan Maas 77; 210 Christiaan Maas 66 Casey Jarvis 68 Christiaan Burke 76
663 - Team England 219 Zachary Chegwidden 67 Sam Bairstow 73 Callan Barrow 79; 217 Zachary Chegwidden 70 Sam Bairstow 71 Callan Barrow 76; 227 Sam Bairstow 72 Zachary Chegwidden 76 Callan Barrow 79
674 - Team Scotland 221 Jack Broun 71 Rory Franssen 74 Stephen Roger 76; 223 Jack Broun 72 Rory Franssen 72 Connor Wilson 79; 230 Jack Broun 76 Connor Wilson 77 Rory Franssen 77
676 - Team Kenya 229 Adel Balala 72 Njoroge Kibugu 76 Taimur Haider Malik 81; 224 Adel Balala 71 Njoroge Kibugu 76 Taimur Haider Malik 77; 223 Taimur Haider Malik 74 Njoroge Kibugu 74 Adel Balala 75
679 - Team South Africa Juniors 232 Daniel Bennett 73 Pascal Gunther 79 Hannes Strooh 80; 226 Daniel Bennett 74 Hannes Strooh 76 Joshua Koekemoer 76; 221 Pascal Gunther 70 Daniel Bennett 75 Hannes Strooh 76