Elton’s on song for amateur tour challenge

ELTON JAMES is one of the form players of the Western Province Premier Amateur Tour (PAT)

The former Natalian, who plays out of Westlake Golf Club, was a winner last time out at Erinvale and before that tamed the field at Atlantic Beach.

James whose brother is former Springbok Butch James, is sixth on the latest PAT rankings on 271.36 points, 120 behind pacesetter Chris Hicks.

He has set his sights on being overall champion.

“I won’t be playing in tomorrow’s Milnerton Open because you need to pace yourself in an event that runs for many months. But I do want to play in about 80 percent of the 15 opens to give myself a chance of winning it outright,” said James, who will captain the WP Open team at this month’s Interprovincials in Johannesburg. .

“Chris is still setting the early pace and no doubt wants to stay ahead of the chasing pack,” he continued.

“There are still seven opens after this weekend and I’ll be try- ing out there pushing Chris hard.

“I’ve got a new putter that’s played ball and helped me sign for low scores, so more of the same from the long stick can only do my cause good.”

James, 41, is a former national mid-am level player who finished runner- up at the SA mid- am championships in 2015.

Former professional golfer Adrian Ford is also a two-time PAT winner.

The leading amateur in the 2008 South African Open Championship captured the Parow and Strand Opens thanks to a final round of 65 in each of the 36-hole events.

Once as high as 25th on the R&A World Amateur Rankings, Ford, who spent seven winless years in the paid ranks, seems to be back to his best now that there’s no pressure on him to succeed.

He’s sure to mount a strong bid for the PAT title. Two titles from three starts and 12th spot on the PAT rankings suggests the 30-year-old Durbanville member is one to follow.

Wicks collected top honours at the Westlake Open to go with a couple of top-five finishes which sees the Durbanville member heading the PAT log.

Then another former pro in the form of Cameron Johnston cannot be ruled out. The King David Mowbray member is due for a win after four straight top-five placings, the best effort second at Kuilsriver.

Others not to be discounted from making it into the winners enclosure are Sean Howell (Durbanville), Stefan Blommaert (Strand) and Dean Robert Pilkington (Bellville), who won the season-opening Bellville Open in the first week of March.