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Teenage South African Aldrich Potgieter built a seemingly insurmountable lead and then withstood a stirring comeback from Sam Bairstow to win the 127th Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lytham St. Annes, England.
In the 36-hole final over the Lancashire links, the 17-year-old held on for a 3-and-2 victory over the Englishman to become the youngest winner of the championship since Matteo Manassero triumphed in 2009 aged 16.
“It’s really amazing,” Potgieter said. “I can’t really find the words, there’s no feeling like it and I haven’t felt this good before. The words can’t even come out of my mind.”
Potgieter surged ahead thanks to a bogey-free four-under-par 66 in the morning session to grab a seven-up lead. But Bairstow, 23, kept it interesting, clawing back to two down with four to play.
Just a year ago, Laird Shepherd rallied from eight down at Nairn, but Potgieter never buckled under the mounting pressure and relied on his brilliant short game to seal the win on his first-ever visit to the UK.
For starters, Potgieter, ranked 140th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, earned a berth in The 150th Open at St. Andrews next month.
“I’m really excited,” he said. “I played the Old Course recently (in the Links Trophy) and it was really amazing. I think the course is going to get in better shape so I’m really looking forward to that.”
The South African sensation also can expect a spot in the 2023 U.S. Open and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament in April. The teenager will also be invited to play in an event on the DP World Tour.
Potgieter became only the third South African to triumph after Jovan Rebula at Royal Aberdeen in 2018 and Bobby Cole at Carnoustie in 1966.
From a 288-man starting field representing 42 countries, Bairstow, the highest-ranked Great Britain and Ireland player in the competition at 19th on WAGR, reached the finals and was bidding to become the first left-hander to win The Amateur…
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Source : yahoo
