South African Buchanan Books Royal Birkdale Date

Johannesburg, South Africa: 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 stunning 12-under-par 60. All three finished tied for second on a 15-under 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.

Reflecting on a magical week, Buchanan said: “It feels great to get the job done. Any time you win, it’s really good, but to win a championship of this calibre it really means a lot to me. 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.

“I believe the first Open 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.

“My favourite golfer since I was a kid has been Rory McIlroy, so just to see him up close would be pretty cool.”

Buchanan, who hails from Cape Town, continued a rich vein of form in the final round, going out in 33 courtesy of birdies at the third and eighth either side of a superb eagle at the par-five sixth. Two birdies on the final stretch saw him sign for a five-under 67 and lift the first elite amateur championship of his promising career.

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 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.  

Barnard finished the day with a brilliant bogey-free nine-under 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.

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.