Benoni’s number one amateur golfer to spearhead 2020’s tournament

Benoni’s Jayden Schaper, South African Golf Association’s (SAGA) current number one, will spearhead the 2020 SA Open tournament at Randpark Golf Club between January 9 and 12.

He will tee off alongside Casey Jarvis, who also plays for Benoni, Martin Vorster, Sam Simpson, Jordan Duminy and Kyle de Beer, who are respectively ranked second to sixth in the Golf RSA Open Amateur Rankings.

“As the custodians of the world’s second oldest open, we are extremely pleased to offer our amateurs the opportunity to test themselves in a championship of this stature.

“We are so fortunate that we have a great depth of choice amongst our elite amateur golfers in South Africa.

“The fact that many of them are juniors speak volumes about the standards of coaching, golf academies, the talent management and development programs in this country.

“Although we lose players to the professional ranks at a rate that is more than desirable, we still are able to field top world-class amateur players when needed.

“SAGA and Golf RSA wish these six amateurs well as they vie for the Freddie Tait Cup and we implore them to grab this opportunity with both hands, as it builds their character and prepares them for their future careers,” said South African Golf Association (SAGA) President Naadir Agherdien.

In addition to a number of victories on the local circuit, including the South African Stroke Play Championship, Jayden Schaper became the first South African winner of the prestigious Junior Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass in the United States. Simpson and Vorster won silver in the recent Spirit International in the United States, Vorster won bronze in the Men’s Individual Competition and the Golf RSA Proteas team finished ninth overall.

Meanwhile, Jarvis rose to second in the Open Amateur rankings on the back of his victories in the Silver Salver and Central Gauteng Open and runner-up finish in the Gauteng North Open, North West Open, KwaZulu-Natal Stroke Play and the Harry Oppenheimer Trophy.

Jayden, Martin, Sam and Jordan departed for Australia with Christo on December 8 to 9 to compete in the Junior Presidents Cup, having earned their spots on the International Team via the Amateur Golf World Rankings.

“It’s absolutely incredible that five of the players in the 12-man International Team come from our small country.

“The six amateurs who have been selected to compete in the SA Open have all excelled this season and we are very excited to see how they handle themselves in a top-flight golf tournament against top talent from the European, Asian and Sunshine Tours.

“I have no doubt that they will represent South Africa and GolfRSA with pride,” said Hepburn

The 2020 SA Open will once again be played on the Firethorn and Bushwillow championship courses at Randpark Golf Club, and the top three non-exempt players will qualify for the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George’s in Kent, England.