Given it’s still amateur golf, there are no pots of gold at the end of a tournament in the Rainbow Nation but South Africa continues to provide plenty of prizes and plaudits for Scottish players in the unpaid ranks.
Euan Walker of Barassie made his mark on the international scene at Leopard Creek yesterday when he eased to victory in the African Amateur Strokeplay Championship. With David Law conquering on the European Tour last weekend, it’s not been a bad few days for Scottish golf on the global stage.
Rounds of 72, 67, 67 and 71 gave Walker an 11-under aggregate of 277 and a three shot win over Sweden’s Ludwig Aberg as he added another tartan tinge to South Africa’s golfing roll of honour. in recent years.
Michael Stewart and Brian Soutar won the South African Matchplay title in 2011 and 2012 respectively while Daniel Young and Craig Ross both got their hands on that same crown in 2015 and 2016.
In 2017, Liam Johnston won the African Amateur Strokeplay title before embarking on a professional career that has already featured two wins on the Challenge Tour and a promotion to the main European circuit.
“I think that everybody out here would aspire to be a professional golfer like Liam on the European Tour and I think that a win like this certainly brings me closer to achieving that,” said Walker. “I also think that playing this golf course shows me that I can compete on a Tour-like golf course and that’s very reassuring.”
Flashback: Johnston savours African Amateur win
Walker had led by four shots going into the closing round and three birdies in his first four holes consolidated that healthy position. The wheels began to shoogle with a couple of double bogeys at the fifth and seventh but the Ayrshireman steadied things with a birdie on 10 before an eagle at 13 restored a handy cushion
“It feels absolutely amazing because it is something that I have been working towards my whole life, and particularly in the last two years where I have been full-time in elite amateur golf,” he added.
On the European Tour, the aforementioned Law, fresh from his weekend win in the Vic Open, began his challenge in the World Super 6 event in Perth with a two-under 70 to sit alongside his compatriot, Robert MacIntyre.
The Scots duo were sitting five shots behind early leaders, Kristoffer Reitan of Norway and the Filipino, Miguel Tabuena, who birdied eight of his first nine holes in his seven-under 65.
Meanwhile, England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff claimed a share of the lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour’s ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open with a seven-under 65. Catriona Matthew had a 73.
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