South African amateur championship

Top seed Rory Franssen beaten in first round

 

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

It was pride before a fall for No 1 seed Rory Franssen in the first match-play round of the South African men's amateur golf championship at George Golf Club today (TUESDAY).

Franssen, 17, from Inverness, awarded the Proudfoot Trophy (pictured below) on Monday as the winner of the 36-hole stroke-play eliminator, was beaten by one hole by Gauteng North’s Philip Kruze

The South African was naturally delighted with his win over the Scot who had rounds of 64 and 68 to head the 64 qualifiers. Kruze was the 64th qualifier.

“I’m very pleased considering how well Rory played in the stroke play qualifier," said Kruze.

"He didn’t play his best today and I capitalised on that. I also didn’t play brilliant golf but it got me through.”

Scott Gibson (Southerness) was another to lose in the first round but three Scots are through to the round of the last 32 - Sandy Scott (Nairn), Calum Fyfe (Cawder) and No 2 seed Craig Ross (Kirkhill).

Nairn teenager Scott, the 2015 SGU Boys' Order of Merit winner, held his nerve to win by a hole against Andre Nel, while Kirkhill’s Ross had a 2 and 1 triumph over James Pennington. Fyfe won by 3 and 2 against David Amm from Zimbabwe.

The Scottish trio are seeking to add to become the fourth Scot in the last six years to lift trophy.

Gibson lost by 3 and 2 to James du Preez (Pretoria) in the last first-round match to finish.