SA’S LAMPRECHT CLAIMS THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

“I tried to stay in my zone the last couple of holes because Ronan was playing good and fighting back hard. It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it feels good. I guess South Africans like playing links golf. We kind of like being creative, so I guess that flowed over into this Championship. I cannot comprehend my feelings right now. I’m just over the moon.”

With the biggest victory of his career, the towering 22-year-old earned exemptions into The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool, the 2024 U.S. Open, and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament next year. He also joined a Championship roll of honour which includes legends of the game like Bobby Jones, Sir Michael Bonallack, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.

Christo Lamprecht continued South Africa’s proud history in The Amateur Championship when he became the fourth winner – and third GolfRSA National Squad champion in the last six years – to lift one of the most prestigious trophies in the amateur game.

The World No 6 defeated Ronan Kleu from Switzerland 3 & 2 in a thrilling 36-hole final to win the 128th edition in front of large crowds in what was an exciting contest at Hillside GC in June.

Now, Lamprecht has done South Africa, and GolfRSA, proud again.

“I’m just over the moon,” said Lamprecht, whose affinity for Links courses previously netted him victories in the 2017 South African Amateur at Humewood and the 2018 East of Ireland Amateur at County Lowth GC. “I haven’t kind of won something big in a long time and it’s the one to win for sure. I’m ecstatic. It’s always nice to be part of history with South Africa and to enrich that history and I just love my country.

“It’s tough to even think about the Majors right now. My biggest goal this year was to try and qualify for a Major before I turn pro to get that experience, and now I’m into three. It’s the biggest of milestone I’ve achieved. I’m not going to lie, to get into three is pretty amazing.”

Lamprecht was full of praise for his caddie, fellow GolfRSA National Squad player and International Arnold Palmer Cup teammate Christiaan Maas. The 2022 Brabazon Trophy champion was also on the bag for Potgieter when he won 12 months ago.

“The word caddie is insulting him a little bit, because Christiaan is an amazing golfer in his own right and he is going to do amazing things and probably going to win this championship, as well, in my opinion,” Lamprecht said. “We kind of play golf very similarly and kind of approach the game the same way, and he has a bit of experience, so having him on there for an extra bit of advice was amazing.”

W i t h i t s s c e n i c s u r r o u n d i n g s a n d t h e V a a l R i v e r a s a b a c k d r o p , V a a l d e G r a c e G o l f E s t a t e o f f e r s a w o n d e r f u l g o l f i n g e x p e r i e n c e i n a t r a n q u i l a n d p i c t u r e s q u e s e t t i n g j u s t o u t s i d e P a r y s .

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