South African Amateur Championship

County first team player Mark Stockdale enjoyed an excellent run in the South African Amateur Championships as the Overstone Park member progressed through to the last eight at Mount Edgecome GC.

Stockdale, who finished 46th in the South African Strokeplay Qualifying the previous week, beat Vukasin Suturovic 3&2 in his opening match, before knocking out the highest ranked player Jonathan Broomhead on the first extra hole in round two.

Another 3&2 win followed in the last 16 against Peter O’Keeffe, before the teenager lost on the third additional hole to Janko van der Merwe in the quarter-finals.

Stockdale said: “It has been nice to hang around these players and learn from them. I have always been one of those players, who likes playing with better players. It makes you work harder and bring something special.

“In the matchplay I got on a bit of a roll and I will certainly take the positives from the week. It’s about improving 1% each week.”