Luca Filippi will be lone South African in action in the final two rounds of the eighth Italian International Under-16 Championship after a day of mixed fortunes for the South African team at Golf Club Biella in Italy.
The 15-year-old Western Province golfer added a 75 in Wednesday’s second round to an opening 78 to vault to joint 19^th in the prestigious international championship.

The South African team is in a challenging position after first round action in the Espirito Santo Trophy at the World Amateur Team Championships wrapped up in at the Karuizawa 72 East Golf Club in Japan on Wednesday.

The South African four-man team will have to dig deep in today’s second round after a disappointing start to their Italian International Under-16 Championship campaign on Tuesday.

Michaela Fletcher, Monja Richards and Cara Gorlei wrapped up their preparation on Tuesday and are primed to challenge in the first round of the Espirito Santo Trophy at the World Amateur Team Championships in Karuizawa, Japan today.

Reigning South African Stroke Play champion Jason Smith will line up for South Africa alongside fellow Pretoria amateur Zander Lombard and Gerlou Roux from the Western Province in the Eisenhower Trophy at the biennial World Amateur Team Championships in Japan from 9-14 September.

Hennie Otto’s two-shot triumph at the Italian Open on Sunday was the main topic of conversation among the four South African juniors lining up in the Italian International Under-16 Championship this week.

South Africa’s Michaela Fletcher, Monja Richards and Cara Gorlei are primed for the Espirito Santo Trophy at the World Amateur Team Championships, which tees off at the Karuizawa 72 East Golf Club in Karuizawa, Japan on Wednesday.

Forty-four delegates successfully completed the R&A Level One Rules Course, presented by South African Golf Association Assistant Executive Director, Neil Homann, and hosted by the Ekurhuleni Golf Union at Benoni Country Club on Saturday.