• Home
• | Terms & conditions
• | Contact us

SA eyes top 10 at World Amateur

15 October 2008

The South African amateur golf team, competing in the 72-hole Eisenhower Trophy, which starts on Thursday, will be looking finish in the top ten, according to team captain Enver Hassen.

Seventy-two countries have entered the prestigious tournament, which forms part of the World Amateur Team Championships.

Each country enters three players and, playing stroke play, the best two scores count in each of the four rounds.

Courses

The competition takes place at the par-72 Grange Golf Club, West Course, and the par-73 Royal Adelaide Golf Club, a links course. Both clubs are in Adelaide, South Australia.

"In 1998 we finished tenth, that being our best result in this competition since being readmitted to international sport," said Hassen, who is also the South African Golf Association’s (SAGA) President.

"We have an experienced team of three players, all of whom have played international tournaments this year with some success. In fact, they travelled together to the Barratt Amateur Invitational in Canada, in August this year," he added.

Team members

Making up the team are 18-year-old Dylan Frittelli from the Irene Country Club, who is currently on a golf scholarship at the University of Texas, 37-year-old Cameron Johnston the Milnerton Golf Club, 22-year-old and Jacques Blaauw the Paarl Golf Club.

"If we can get off to a good start there is no reason why we should not finish in the top ten," said Blaauw, prior to the team's departure.

"The world’s best amateurs are teeing up in this competition. I believe we have a good team and can take on countries like Australia, the USA, and even New Zealand, who has the number one ranked amateur on the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Danny Lee."

Canadian win

Hassen said: "Frittelli has been very consistent this year, finishing regularly in top ten positions. Having recorded a win in Canada recently has further elevated his status as the number one ranked player on the SAGA’s Player Rankings."

Speaking from Adelaide, he said the two courses on which the Eisenhower Trophy will contested are very different. "Royal Adelaide is the tougher of the two. It is a links with fast hard greens. Par will be a good score here," he reckoned.

"Grange is more of a parklands course, more forgiving, where scoring will be a bit easier."

Windy conditions

According to the team captain the windy conditions are forecast, which is something that is usually a great leveller. "This will suit us as both Johnston and Blaauw are good players under these conditions," said Hassen. "The weather here is very much like Cape Town."

In 1998, in Santiago, Chile, Trevor Immelman, Jean Hugo, Dean Lambert and Henk Alberts represented South Africa and recorded the country's best finish in the competition since South Africa was readmitted in 1994. Hugo was SA's best performer, finishing his 72 holes on 291.

"In those days there were four players in a team, the best three scores counted," explained Hassen. The current format was introduced in 2002.

The final practice rounds take place on Wednesday, followed by the opening ceremony.

First round

On Thursday, the South African team plays the Grange Golf Club West Course. They'll play alongside players from India and Bermuda in the first round.

On Friday, South Africa plays at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club. They are paired with players from China and Puerto Rico.

"We could not have asked for a better draw," enthused Hassen. "On Friday a hot day has been forecast and we have an early morning tee off time."

The draw for the last two rounds is a seeded draw based on the team's scores.

Full live scoring is available on the World Amateur Team Championships Golfstats Live! Website.

SAinfo reporter