O’Riley & van Wyk meet in the Quarter Finals

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.

“We are guaranteed of having a South African in tomorrow’s semi final,” pointed out Enver Hassen, the South African Golf Association President and team manager, in a telephonic interview today.

In the first round of the match play, played this morning in light rain and wind, Dean O’Riley was always up on his opponent, Sam An, of New Zealand. “Even though he won, Dean was not happy with the way he played,” said Enver Hassen.

O’Riley played better in the second round beating his opponent, Gary John Hill 2 and 1.

Van Wyk, on the other hand, turned two down in his first round match against New Zealander Keiran Muir. He fought back eventually overcoming his opponent on the 19th hole.

All matches started on the 9th hole. Van Wyk’s second round opponent, also a New Zealander, Brad Hayward, was soundly beaten by the South African 5 and 4.

Less fortunate, of the South Africans, was the Glacier SA Amateur Championship finalist, Adrian Ford. He struggled in his first round match against Rob Noffke of New Zealand. With the golfing gods against him Ford eventually lost 2 down. He lost two balls in the last three holes. “On the final hole Ford hit his drive on the fairway, it bounced awkwardly. When he got to where he thought his ball had come to rest he could not find it. His opponent hit his second onto the green so the Western Province golfer conceded the hole,” said Hassen.

Nicol van Wyk recently won the Northern Amateur Match Play, so he will fancy his chances against Dean O’Riley, the No 1. ranked South African, according to the latest SAGA Player Rankings. Who ever wins will have a tough semi final. They will come up against the winner the quarter final match involving Scott Arnold, of Australia, the No 1 player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings, released by the R&A and Peter Spearman Burn of New Zealand.

New Zealand Amateur Championship
1st Round Results: South African Players
Titirangi Golf Club
(All players New Zealanders unless stated otherwise)

Adrian Ford (RSA) lost to Rob Noffke 2 down
Dean O’Riley (RSA) beat Sam An 1 up;
Nicol Van Wyk (RSA) beat Keiran Muir on the 19th hole;

2nd Round Results: South African Players

Dean O’Riley (RSA) beat Gary John Hill 2 and 1;
Nicol van Wyk (RSA) beat Brad Hayward 5 and 4.