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Africa Amateur Championship
Jack Buchanan claims commanding win in the Africa Amateur Championship
07 Feb 26
6 mins
Jack Buchanan dominated the field at Royal Johannesburg to cruise to a six-shot victory in the third edition of the Africa Amateur Championship.
The 21-year-old tamed the venue’s famed East Course with a 21-under-par total of 267 to top the leaderboard ahead of Ivan Verster, who also finished runner-up at Leopard Creek two years ago, Charl Barnard and JL ‘Dewan’ de Bruin, who smashed the championship low round record with a magnificent 12-under-par 60. All three finished tied for second on a 15-under-par total of 273. Buchanan will now tee it up alongside the world’s best golfers in The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, as well as earning exemptions into The Amateur Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, the Investec South African Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq. The South African, who hails from Cape Town, continued a rich vein of form in the final round, going out in 33 courtesy of birdies at the 3rd and 8th either side of a superb eagle at the par-5 6th. Two birdies on the final stretch saw him sign for a five-under-par 67 and lift the first elite amateur championship of his promising career. “It feels great to get the job done this week. Any time you win, it's really good, but to win a championship of this calibre it really means a lot to me," he said. "It hasn't sunk in yet, but it feels unreal to get into the events that you get into by winning this. Royal Johannesburg has been a great host this week and the course has been in unreal condition.” He added: “I'm just grateful that The R&A can put on such a good event and you guys are so accepting of college guys coming to play. My coach at school let me come play, so I’m just really fortunate to be able to play in such an event like this which has so much meaning behind it.”
Jack Buchanan won by six strokes at Royal Johannesburg's East Course.
Buchanan's exemption for The Open this summer will see him return to a venue he previously attended as a fan.
“I believe the first Open that I went to was at Royal Birkdale in 2017 so to go back somewhere I was a kid watching not too long ago is going to be really special. Kevin Na gave me a golf ball that he got a hole-in-one with in a practice round. Rickie Fowler gave me a signed glove," he said.
“My favourite golfer since I was a kid has been Rory McIlroy, so just to see him up close would be pretty cool. Obviously you have some of the South African names too.”
Verster, who led after day one, attempted to put some early pressure on Buchanan at the start of final round with an opening birdie. However, any momentum was halted when he dropped two shots on the following hole with a double-bogey.
A run of five birdies in nine holes was brought to a halt with another double at the 17th, but the 22-year-old bounced back with a birdie at the last to finish the day with a three-under-par 69.
While Verster’s challenge faltered, Barnard and de Bruin surged up the leaderboard – de Bruin with the lowest round of the week. The teenager managed 10 birdies on Saturday, almost aced the par-3 12th and finished his round by draining a huge eagle putt on the 18th to vault into second place.
“I'm quite speechless. I just felt like I was floating almost and wasn't there on the course. I was just enjoying it, playing some good golf. Birdies came and that's how all this happened," de Bruin said.
JL de Bruin recorded the lowest round of the week at the Africa Amateur Championship.
“It's a real confidence boost I must say. It's a surreal experience, and just now I know my game is there and I know what I can do and I know I can play. I mean, I've been struggling a bit to get a low round in for the last couple of months so this brought some joy.
“Royal Johannesburg is an amazing course. It's lovely, greens are fabulous, fairways are great – you can't complain about anything here. This event is a great experience, you learn about everyone's culture, meet new people and make new friends. It's amazing overall.”
Barnard finished the day with a brilliant bogey-free nine-under-par 63, highlighted by three birdies in a row towards the turn and four birdies on the way home.
Defending champion Bryan Newman was unable to mount a challenge for back-to-back titles, ultimately finishing in a tie for 13th on one-under-par.
Now in its third year, the Africa Amateur Championship aims to provide a platform for the continent’s finest amateur golfers.
Rolex and Peter Millar are event partners of the Africa Amateur Championship and Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational, with both committed to supporting The R&A’s professional and amateur championships.