I was privileged to be part of the inaugural R&A Africa Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek last week. It was arguably the most prestigious amateur event ever staged in South Africa, with a place in The Open Championship on offer for the men’s winner. With the presence of high level dignitaries from the R&A, the TV cameras, the player’s lounge and gym, course branding on every hole, and every qualifying player being flown in for the event by the R&A from wherever they were in the world, it was next level stuff. The exciting part is that it is now an annual event, exclusively for players from the African continent. I was there in my capacity as Project Manager for the Africa High Performance Programme (AHPP). Mark Fairbank, our Mental Coach and Performance Director, was also there to run a pre- tournament prep camp for the 10 AHPP players competing in the event. Out of those 10 players we had a 4 th place in the women’s event and 12 th place in the men’s event. We also had 2 BSI students who qualified for the event, with both making the cut. Adrian Andrade from the Seychelles finished T20th. Gilbert Chalwe from Zambia was in a similar position before having to withdraw through injury during the final round.

Gilbert Chalwe & Adrian Andrade

BSI Premier Division 18-hole medal

Well done to Viljoen Reinecke for his win in the BSI Premier Division 18-hole medal on Friday 23 February 2024, with 1-over par 73 played at Royal Johannesburg – East Course. Viljoen has always shown he has the ability to place high on the leaderboard and this win definitely shows he can do it, and go on to do more. Congratulations and all the best for the Cape Province Open this week.

Personal Best: Tylah James 77, Yaone Mokgatle 85 & Tristan Botha 89

Viljoen Reinecke

Tylah James & Tristan Botha

BSI Junior Academy 18-hole Medal

Congratulations to Connor Olfsen & Thomo Mokgatle, on their joint win in the BSI Junior Academy 18-hole medal with scores of 77 on Royal Johannesburg – East Course on Friday 23 February. This is Thomo’s maiden win in a BSI Tournament and with his consistent rise in performance, we can see that this will be the beginning of many podium placings. Connor has gone two for two in BSI medals and we look to see if he can do the three-peat this week. Great going young men!

Personal Best: Thomo Mokgatle 77, Legofi Mokgatle 81, Mongezi Ntombini 84 & Shaka Kariisa 88

Thomo Mokgatle & Connor Olfsen

Mongezi Ntombini, Legofi Mokgatle, Shaka Kariisa & Thomo Mokgatle

DP World Tour – Magical Kenya Open; Muthaiga GC, Kenya (22 – 25 February)

• T11 – Jacques Kruyswijk

Ladies European Tour – Lalla Meryem Cup; Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (22 – 25 February)

• T13 – Casandra Alexander

Sunshine Tour – NMB Championship, Humewood GC, (22 – 25 February)

• T54 – Pierre Pellegrin

Bushveld Tour – Race to Q-school #9; Reading CC (19 – 21 February) 

• 2nd – Jules Helary (Jules, in his 2nd round shot a 61, 10-under par, an unofficial course record due to placing being allowed)

Sunshine Ladies Tour – Supersport Ladies Challenge; Lost City GC, Sun City (21 – 23 February)

• T20 – Lejan Lewthwaite
• T43 – Lora Assad

R&A Africa Amateur Championship; Leopard Creek, South Africa (21 – 24 February)

• T20 – Adrian Andrade

Gilbert Chalwe made the cut but unfortunately due to an injury had to withdraw Golf RSA – North West Open; Pecanwood GC (23 – 25 February)

• T5 – Oliver Goldhill
• 14th – Pranay Kapur
• T17 – Vuyisani Makama, Filip Sakota & Grant Labuschagne
• T26 – Jamie Senekal & Jacques van der Merwe
• T38 – Kaiden Chetty
• T43 – Martin Papworth
• T50 – Malachi Schulz
• 62nd – Lorenzo Sakota

Golf RSA – North West Women’s Open; Magaliespark CC (24 & 25 February)

• T12 – Tylah James
• T28 – Yaone Mokgatle

Club Champs – Mbabane Golf Club; Eswatini (24 & 25 February)

• 1st – Mongiwetfu Masuku

Mongi Masuku