Liam Johnston wins as Scots place four in top


five at African stroke-play championship

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Liam Johnston (Dumfries and County) won the African amateur stroke-play championship today - and Scots filled four of the top five final places at Leopard Creek Country Club, South Africa.
Long-time leader Christo Lamprecht, the 16-year-old South African who won the South African championship last week, "blew up" in the final round with a 76 for 283.
That opened the door for Johnston, Connor Syme (Drumoig) and Jamie Stewart (Old Ranfurly) to surge past him and finish 1-2-3.
Johnston had rounds of 72, 67, 70 and 71 for an eight-under-par aggregate of 280.
Syme finished one stroke behind with scores of 67, 70, 72 and 72 for 281.
Young Jamie Stewart was only another shot behind Syme in third place with rounds of 73, 68, 70 and 71 for 282.
Lamprecht finished fourth on 283 with scores of 66, 70, 71 and 76.
Craig Howie from Peebles claimed fifth place on 285 with scores of 75, 69, 70 and 71.
Calum Fyfe (Cawder) was just outside the top 10 with scores of 77, 69, 69 and 73 for level par 288. Pity about that first round, Calum!
Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links), last year's Scottish U18 boys' champion had rounds of 69, 72, 71 and 77 - pity about that final round! - for a total of one-over 289 and a share of l12th place.
Craig Ross (Kirkhill) finished joint 33rd on 298 with disappointing rounds for a player of his quality of 75, 73, 76 and 74 for 10-over 298.
Young Sam Locke (Banchory) was beginning to come on to his game over the last two rounds but he had saddled himself with a couple of 76s to begin with, followed by  74 and 673 for a total of 299 and joint 35th place.
Scotland also won the team title, decided over the earlier rounds.


AFRICAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Leopard Creek Country Club.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
280 Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 72 67 70 71.
281 Connor Syme (Drumoig) 67 70 72 72
282 Jamie Stewart (Old Ranfurly) 73 68 70 71
283 Christo Lamprecht (SAf) 66 70 71 76.
285 Craig Howie (Peebles) 75 69 70 71


OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
288 Calum Fyfe (Cawder) 77 69 69 73 (11th).
289 Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links) 69 72 71 77 (T12)
298 Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 75 73 76 74 (T33)
299 Sam Locke (Banchory) 76 76 74 73 (T35)


TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS


CLICK HERE