Rory’s strong showing

Auchterarder Golf Club member Rory Franssen enjoyed a memorable run at the South African Amateur Championship.

The Perth and Kinross County player breezed through the 36-hole stroke play section of the tournament, carding rounds of 67 and 71 for a six-under par qualifying total at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

That booked his place in the match play format and form continued in round one with a convincing 6&4 victory over home club competitor Christopher Gutuza.

The next round was an altogether tighter match-up but Franssen held his nerve to edge out Jordan Wessels of Mooinooi Golf Club one-up.

Now in the last 16 stage, others would be taking notice after he surged to an 8&6 win over De Zalze Golf Club’s Crismar Engelbrecht.

Quarter final success followed against Travis Procter of Durbanville Golf Club (5&4) to set-up a last four test with Samuel Simpson of Royal Cape Golf Club.

Franssen, with the support of Scottish golf behind him, navigated through that two up.

It teed-up a 36-hole final with Port Elizabeth Golf Club member Kyle de Beer.

Five down after the first round, he did at one point fight back to two down but, in the end, de Beer triumphed 4&2 to lift the trophy.

Scotland Home International Franssen could be proud of his performance but it was straight back on the course for the African Amateur Stroke Play Championship.

He finished an impressive third overall after posting rounds of 68, 68, 64 and 65 at Randpark Golf Club.

Franssen’s 23-under total was just four shots off eventual winner Jonothan Broomhead of the Rainbow Nation’s Durban Country Club.

The event drew to a close on Thursday last week.