BEN CLAIMS SCALP OF HOST NATION'S TOP RANKED AMATEUR

KINSLEY IS SCOTTISH HERO AS ALL SIX
WIN FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN TIES

   Ben Kinsley in action on his way to a marvellous win over the No 1 ranked South African player

All six Scots cleared the first match-play hurdle in the South African amateur championship today (Tuesday) and pride of place in the Tartan hit parade went to Ben Kinsley from St Andrews.
He toppled the host nation's top ranked amateur, Christiaan Bezuidenhout at Hermanus Golf Club on the Western Cape.
Bezuidenhout was the third best qualifier for the match-play stages and, on paper, was an overwhelming favourite to beat the Scot. But Ben took the line that the bigger the name, the harder they fall.
Kinsley won a classic match-play tie at the 20th hole after a match that had swung first the South African's way and then towards the Scot who just had that vital edge in the closing stages.
A marvellous performance by Kinsley to take out the local hero on his own turf.
Kinsley will go on to play Jason Viljoen in the second round. Viljoen claimed a comfortable 6 and 5 win over another South African, Andrew Carlsson.
Daniel Young from Perth, the highest of the five Scots match-play qualifiers, had a good 3 and 2 win over Philip Kruse, a South African who has a useful tournament record.
British boys champion Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) won by 3 and 2 against a German opponent, Michael Pfeifer.
Connor Syme (Dumfries and Co) won by 4 and 3 over Henry Van Waart.
Cawder's Jamie Savage also won by 4 and 3 against an Italian, Philip Geerts. 
And last but certainly not least of the Scottish winners was Scott Gibson from Southerness. He beat Johan Germishuys by two holes.
South African No 2 Zander Lombard bt Jason Rossiter 3 and 2.
England's big hope, Toby Tree, lost by 3 and 1 to Marco Steyn.
South Africa's defending champion Thriston Lawrence, who struggled a little in qualifying, managed to make it through round one unscathed,
defeating Henri van der Walt 3 and 2.
SOUTH AFRICAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Hermanus Golf Club, Western Cape.
SCOTS' FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Players from S Africa unless stated
C Syme (Sco) bt H Van Waart 4 and 3.
E Ferguson (Sco) bt M Pfeifer (Ger) 3 and 2.
B Kinsley bt C Bezuidenhout at 20th.
D Young bt P Kruse 3 and 2.
J Savage bt P Geerts (Ita) 4 and 3. 
S Gibson bt J Germishuys 2 holes.