Loading article...
Loading article...
see also: Ivan Verster, View results for African Amateur, Leopard Creek Country Club
Kyra van Kan goes wire-to-wire and wins the inaugural Africa Amateur Women's Invitational by a commanding nine shots
Ivan Verster holds a one-shot over Christiaan Maas going into the final round of the Africa Amateur Championship after a dramatic third day’s play at Leopard Creek.
The 20-year-old South African carded a 5-under 67 that included nine birdies to finish the third round on 14-under-par, while fellow countryman Maas found red-hot form with the putter to make an eagle and seven birdies on the way to a course record-equaling bogey-free 9-under 63 to move into second place on 13-under.
Overnight leader Altin van der Merwe experienced a round of contrasting fortunes and settled for a 1-under 71 to sit in third place, three shots off the pace on 11-under-par.
“It was a really good performance, and I’m feeling good,” said Verster.
“I was six under through No. 11 but doubled the next hole. I managed to respond well to finish birdie-birdie, so it really gives me confidence going into tomorrow.
“I saw (Christiaan) Maas had a 63 today, so there's a low score out there. Anyone within four or five shots has a good chance, but I'll just do my best and try and keep them at bay.”
Maas, ranked No. 14 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings and the top-ranked player in the field, made a dream start to the round by going birdie-eagle-birdie on the opening three holes. A string of steady pars was broken with two back-to-back birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 before picking up further shots on the 15th and 17th.
An eagle chance on No. 18 put Maas within touching distance of setting a new course record 10-under 62, but his putt rolled agonizingly past the edge of the hole, meaning he had to settle for a 9-under 63, joining Scott Jamieson, Ockie Strydom, and 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen as course record holders at Leopard Creek.
“I thought it was a good performance, and I managed to cut out the mistakes I made yesterday,” said Maas.
“Today gives me a lot of momentum going into the final round. I suppose I’ve just been building from the first day, playing better and making less mistakes. Hopefully, tomorrow, I can continue and go bogey-free again.
“Luckily, I'm in the final group, so I can see what happens around me. I didn't really have an idea of how Ivan (Verster) or Altin (van der Merwe) were playing. Tomorrow will be a good battle, and I’m very excited about it.”
For van der Merwe, it was a day of highs and lows as the South African mixed an eagle and five birdies with four disappointing bogeys and a frustrating double-bogey at the par-5 No. 13 on the way to a 1-under 71.
The 27-year-old aims for back-to-back wins after winning the Golf RSA International Amateur at Houghton last week and remains in the hunt for the championship.
“I started very well, but I would say through 9,10 and 11, it was pretty poor and I lost focus,” said van der Merwe.
“We were three good friends playing together, so we tried to build each other up. All of us had good holes and all of us had bad holes. I tried to be more aggressive and it bit me around the turn. The putts just didn't fall like they did yesterday and when I ran it over the lips a couple times, I got frustrated.
“I'm not trying to think about winning at this point. First, I’ve got to do some chasing against two good friends. It's going to be tough, but there's going to be no mercy between us when it comes to golf, so I think we're all going to go for it.”
Simon du Plooy shot a 67 to keep himself within sight of the leading group on eight-under-par, while Zimbabwean Matthew Bramford sits two shots further back in fifth place after a 71.
Africa Amateur Women's Invitational
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | , South Africa | 700 | 69-65-71-70=275 | |
| T2 | , South Africa | 500 | 71-69-63-72=275 | |
| T2 | , South Africa | 500 | 66-69-67-73=275 | |
| 4 | , Zimbabwe | 400 | 65-74-71-68=278 | |
| 5 | , South Africa | 400 | 69-72-67-72=280 |

Introduced by the R&A in 2024, this event aims to replicate the success of the Latin American and Asia- Pacific amateur championships that have provided a pathway for golfers in different parts of the world to reach elite levels of the sport. 72-hole...

Rory McIlroy Wins 2026 Seminole Pro-Member With Dad Gerry
Mar 2, 2026Rory McIlroy added another trophy to the mantle on golf’s most exclusive Monday, teaming with father Gerry at Seminole Golf Club.
U.S. Open Qualifying 2026: Local & Final Qualifying Sites for Shinnecock
Feb 19, 2026The road to Shinnecock Hills begins in April as 110 local qualifying sites and 13 final qualifying venues are set.
FINAL RESULTS: Gasparilla Invitational 2026
Feb 21, 2026Hayes Brown wins Gasparilla at 2-under, edging Peyton White by one, while Jeff Frazier claims the Senior title at Palma Ceia.
Michael McCoy Wins 2026 Jones Cup Senior Invitational at Sea Island
Feb 26, 20262026 Jones Cup Senior Invitational at Sea Island’s Seaside Course Final Results + Leaderboard
2026 San Francisco City Championship Qualifier Round 2 COMPLETE
Mar 8, 2026Alexander Thu surges to No. 1 seed and 48 Players are moving on to Match Play at TPC Harding Park.