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The Amateur

South African Van Wyk shines on opening day at The Amateur

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The R&A
19 Jun 23
3 mins
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South African Ben Van Wyk shone on his debut in The 128th Amateur Championship to claim the early lead in stroke play qualifying in England’s north-west.

The 22-year-old, ranked 81st on the Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), signed for a superb eight-under-par 64 at Hillside for a one-shot advantage. Van Wyk, who recently finished his Senior season at the University of Georgia, was threatening the course record after a front nine that included an incredible seven birdies. Almost 40 different countries are represented in the 288-strong field for the prestigious Amateur Championship, with 36-hole stroke play action over the links at Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale today and tomorrow. The top 64 players and ties progress to the match play stages.

Scott catches eye

Richard Teder from Estonia recorded his own 64, this time at Southport & Ainsdale, for seven-under-par, including four birdies in his last five holes. Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup contender Calum Scott from Nairn impressed after a six-under 66 at Hillside, the same mark as Markus Luoma of Finland. Five players are on five-under-par, including English duo Ben Brown and Jack Bigham, the 2021 R&A Boys’ Amateur Champion at Royal Cinque Ports. Another Englishman John Gough, who reached the semi-finals at Royal Lytham & St Annes 12 months ago, is well-placed in a share of tenth on four-under-par with Swede Albert Hansson, Boys’ Amateur Champion at Carnoustie last August, also signing for four-under.
2023 Amateur Highlights

Spectators welcome

Spectators are welcome to attend The Amateur Championship with tickets available to purchase at www.randa.org. Adult tickets are available from £10, with a four-day ticket just £25. To encourage children and young people to attend The Amateur Championship, The R&A will continue the successful ‘Kids go Free’ programme which provides children under-16-years-old free entry to the Championship when accompanied by a paying adult. Half-price youth tickets are also available for 16-24-year-olds. For the second year running, a pre-qualifying event was held for The Amateur Championship last Friday. A total of 72 players competed over 18 holes of stroke play at Southport & Ainsdale to qualify for a minimum of 33 places into the Championship. The last time Hillside played host to The Amateur Championship was in 2011, when Australian Bryden Macpherson lifted the trophy after beating Scotland’s Michael Stewart.  The winner of Saturday’s 36-hole Final will secure exemptions into The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool next month, the US Open, and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament. View day one scoring from The Amateur Championship here.

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The Amateur