Zimbabwe’s Tanaka Chatora leads the way on seven-under-par after the opening round of the Africa Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek.
The 18-year-old made two eagles and five birdies in a superb round of 65 to hold a two-shot lead over Jack Buchanan of South Africa, who carded a 67 that featured an eagle and five birdies.
“I’m feeling great. I think the goal of today was just to have fun and I definitely did,” said Chatora, who joined the Africa High Performance Programme in 2022, a partnership between The R&A, the International Golf Federation, PGA of South Africa and Olympic Solidarity.
“I’m very happy with how I came back as the two bogeys that I made were pretty much unforced errors. It kind of annoyed me in the moment, but I got past it very well, and I’m very happy to have managed to bring it back on the back nine.
“Really, really had a lot of fun today, and the two eagles that I had – how often do you have two eagles in a round? It’s not very often. It comes once in a while, and I’m very, very happy and grateful to have signed for a 65 today.”
Buchanan found himself in the lead on five-under-par through the 13th but went on to mix two birdies with two bogeys on the way home as playing partner Chatora climbed to the top of the leaderboard.
“I played well out there today, kept things going,” said Buchanan. “Just tried to play my own game and stick to my own pace out there.
“It was nice to birdie the 18th as I had a couple bogeys on the back nine. I tried to not let that get in the way of the good round I was having. It’s only the first round of the championship, so very early days, but although you can’t win it on the first day, you can lose the tournament on it. Nice to have a solid opening round and something to build on.”
Michael Karanga, the top-ranked player in the field, Johndre Ludick and Roelof Craig all signed for rounds of 68 to sit tied for third place one shot further back on four-under-par.
Meanwhile, Michael Alunga is the best ranked after 18 holes of the Ugandan contingent in action.
Alunga scored 3-over-75. Titus Okwong is joint 31st with 5-over-77, two shots better than Elton Thembo.
Joseph Cwinya-ai (80), Andrew Ssekibejja (82), Ibrahim Bagalana (87) and Joseph Reagan Akena (87) are the other Ugandans playing catch up.
Round one had 72 gross players where two players; Athur Astin Wade (South Africa) and Boglo Guillaume (Benin) retired prematurely.
In the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational, Lisa Coetzer’s two-under-par 70 gave the 14-year-old a two-shot lead over fellow South Africans, Bobbi Brown and Gia Raad.
Coetzer rolled in six birdies with the only real blemish on her card being a double-bogey seven at the last.
“I played really well today and just stuck to the plan that I made on the practice rounds,” said Coetzer, who is making her debut in the event.
“Other than that, it was really hot, but I managed to drink a lot of water and stay cool, which is probably one key to this golf course is to stay cool and then just miss it in the right spots, which I did really well. I’m really proud of myself for how I managed myself out there.”
Two Ugandan ladies; Peace Kabasweka scored 86 whilst Martha Babirye had 89.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Kruger National Park, the Africa Amateur Championship and Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational provide a world-class platform for the region’s rising talent to compete on the international stage.
The winner of the Africa Amateur Championship will earn exemptions into The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, The Amateur Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, The Investec South African Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.
The winner of the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational will earn starts in The Women’s Amateur Championship, Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open, Joburg Ladies Open, The Investec South African Women’s Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.
Additional information: The R&A Media
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