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Africa Amateur Championship
Jack Buchanan pushes ahead after stunning second round at Africa Amateur Championship
05 Feb 26
6 mins
Jack Buchanan carded a sensational seven-under-par round of 65 to move into the lead at the Africa Amateur Championship halfway point.
The 21-year-old South African enjoyed a bogey-free Thursday while recording seven birdies during a flawless performance on Royal Johannesburg’s East Course. An outstanding tee shot on the par-3 16th hole, setting up his sixth birdie of the day, was among the highlights from his round as he reached a 36-hole total of 11-under. Buchanan, who finished seventh in the Championship at Leopard Creek last year, is now two shots clear of opening round leader Ivan Verster going into day three. “I got off to a decent start, birdieing three of the first five or six holes so that was a nice start. Then I just kind of continued the momentum going forward, just hitting the ball close, hitting fairways. It was nice to kind of make that many birdies in a round of golf for a change," Buchanan said. “I'm swinging it well, feeling well, so I'm excited for the last two rounds.” Verster enjoyed another impressive day, finishing with a four-under round of 68.
Ivan Verster is Jack Buchanan's closest challenger at the top of the leaderboard.
“Today I got off to quite a hot start. The putter was cold on the back nine. I shot four-under on the front nine, level par on the back nine. But I’m happy I'm hitting my irons good so giving myself enough chances. Hopefully the putter just heats up," Verster said.
“Going into tomorrow I’m feeling good. There is still a lot of golf left so anything can happen. I just want to give myself a chance.”
Malan Potgieter, who also went low on day two with a five-under round of 67, joins Andries van der Vyver in a tie for third. Both men are five shots off the lead. Egypt’s Issa Abou El Ela enjoyed a solid round to sit fifth, closing in style with an eagle on the 18th hole, while defending champion Bryan Newman is tied for sixth.
The halfway cut (+12) means only the top 40 players and ties in the Africa Amateur Championship return for Friday and Saturday.
In the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational, teenager Lisa Coetzer holds the lead for the second consecutive day. The talented 15-year-old managed four birdies as she carded another level-par round of 72, moving three shots clear of her nearest challenger, fellow South African Lourenda Steyn, going into the final day.
Lisa Coetzer leads the way in the Africa Amateur Women's Invitational.
Afterwards, Coetzer said: “I was struggling through the front nine. I went birdie, bogey, bogey, so I really struggled mentally to get back from that. But I got it right, and I eventually came back from it on hole 8. I got a birdie and that kind of pushed me with my momentum into the back nine to get that score even better.
“I want to go to the range for a little bit and see what's going on there because my irons were a bit off. But other than that, I'm feeling good. I'm happy going into tomorrow.”
Steyn endured a tough start but was flawless on the back nine, going bogey-free down the stretch and recording two birdies on the way to a second round 73.
“I'm feeling pretty confident. I didn't have the best day yesterday. I’m feeling very nervous as this is my first time playing in this event," she said.
"I had a bit of trouble on the front nine being very unlucky, and then on the back nine I just told myself if you keep it on the fairways and on the greens, the putts will eventually fall - and that's exactly what happened.
"I'm feeling really happy at where I'm at, and I'll just take it shot by shot tomorrow.”
Lourenda Steyn is in contention going into the final day of the Africa Amateur Women's Invitational.
Last year’s winner Gia Raad is in a tie for third alongside Charlotte Millard, with the pair a further three shots back.
The Africa Amateur Championship, which is in its third year, aims to provide a platform for the continent’s finest amateur golfers. The champion will receive exemptions into The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, The Amateur Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, the Investec South African Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.
The winner of the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational will earn starts in The Women’s Amateur Championship, Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open, Joburg Ladies Open, The Investec South African Women’s Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.
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.