It was a bad day for most of the South Africans who teed up in today's first round of the 114th Amateur Championship. Only Adrian Ford, Derik Ferreira and Steven Ferreira appear to be in with a chance of qualifying for the match play which starts on Wednesday.

Eleven of South Africa's top amateur golfers tee up in the 114th Amateur Championship starting on Monday (15 June). Amateur golf's most prestigious championship is taking place over two golf courses, Formby and West Lancashire Golf Clubs, which are situated north of Liverpool, England.

Some of South Africa's top amateur golfers have been playing various international tournaments in the United Kingdom, since the middle of May 2009, in preparation for next week's Amateur Championship. For details on how they have performed ....

WESTERN Province made a clean sweep in the final round singles to win the South African Challenge Cup interprovincial at Port Elizabeth Golf Club on Thursday.

CENTRAL Gauteng reversed their first round sub-standard start, to the South African Challenge Cup interprovincial on Tuesday, to claim a fullhouse of points on the second day's play at Port Elizabeth Golf Club on Wednesday.

The SA President's team were the surprise leaders after the opening day of the South African Challenge Cup interprovincial played at a pristine Port Elizabeth Golf Club on Tuesday.

The South African Challenge Cup interprovincial, which gets under way at Port Elizabeth Golf Club on Tuesday, will showcase some of country's most promising talent over the next three days.

Robbie Oosthuizen, 35 year old Strand Golf Club member from Western Province, won the 72 hole South African Mid Amateur Stroke Play Championship in a dramatic finish. He recorded a final round of 76, for a 72 hole total of 292, four over par, to win by one shot from Neil Homann on the final hole.

Local lad Robbie Oosthuizen recorded the best round of the day on Thursday, a three under par 69, to take a one stroke lead, with a level par 54 hole total of 216, in the 72 hole South African Mid Amateur Stroke Play Championship being played at De Zalze Golf Club outside Stellenbosch.

Conrad Amm recorded a second consecutive one under par 71 which gave him a two under par 142, after 36 holes, to take a one shot lead at the halfway stage of the 72 hole 2009 South African Mid Amateur Stroke Play Championship being staged at the De Zalze Golf Club, outside Stellenbosch.

Brian October recorded a five under par 67 to take a one stroke lead after the first round of the 72 hole South African Mid Amateur Stroke Play Championship taking place at De Zalze Golf Club outside Stellenbosch.

Nicol van Wyk is, according to the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), the 4th highest ranked player in the amateur game. These ranking, released weekly by the R&A, take into account performances of amateur golfers in tournaments all over the world.

Professional golf is perceived to be financially most lucrative. So, how are these players doing in the money stakes, with the Sunshine Tour a quarter of the way through its 2009 season?

Gone are the early days of amateur golf development when disadvantaged players, who were selected to participate in the South African Golf Association's (SAGA) Presidents Team, in the Challenge Cup Team tournament, were easy prey for opposing teams.

For the second time in four days, Nicol van Wyk finished runner up. This time he lost to Matt Jager, of Australia, 6 and 5 in today's 36 hole match play final of the New Zealand Amateur Championship at the Titirangi Golf Club in Auckland.

The SAGA continuously reviews its handicapping and course rating system. At the National Executive meeting held on 7 March 2009 at Benoni Country Club, detailed discussions took place led by the Handicap and Course Rating Sub Committee. In this discussion stakeholders' recent comments about the system were taken into account. Some salient points and decisions arising out of the meeting are the following:

South Africa won the 2009 Zone VI International Amateur Golf Team competition after scoring 6, out of a possible 8 points, from their 8 singles matches played during today's final round at Chapman Golf Club, Harare.

Nicol van Wyk, the 24 year old Durbanville Golf Club and Western Province amateur golfer, won both his quarter and semi finals matches today to reach the final of the New Zealand Amateur Championship.

Both Dean O' Riley and Nicol van Wyk successfully negotiated their way through the first two rounds of the New Zealand Amateur Championship, being played at the Titirangi Golf Club in Auckland, to set up an all South African quarter final tomorrow.

Nicol van Wyk, 24 year old Western Province amateur golfer, finished runner up, on conclusion of today's final round, in the 72 hole New Zealand Stroke Play Championship played at the Titirangi Golf Club in Auckland.