Teen Golfer Tanaka Chatora Leads R&A Africa Amateur Championship After Thrilling Round
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Tanaka Chatora made an impressive comeback in the opening round of the R&A Africa Amateur Championship, finishing with a seven-under-par 65 to lead the tournament at Leopard Creek. Despite early bogeys on the first and third holes, the 18-year-old from Zimbabwe rallied with five birdies and two eagles to secure the top spot.
His eagles came on the par-four 10th and the picturesque par-four 15th, a challenging hole with water hazards. Chatora expressed satisfaction with his resilience after the early mistakes, acknowledging the difficulty of the course and his ability to stay focused.
Jack Buchanan, who shared a match with Chatora, had a strong round of his own, finishing two shots behind with a five-under-par 67. The South African began with an eagle on the second hole and added two more birdies on the front nine.
Although he made some mistakes, including a bogey on the 14th, he remained composed and birdied the final hole. Buchanan’s round was filled with highlights, including an eagle from 25 feet on the second, and he praised his ability to maintain focus despite his setbacks.
In the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational, South Africa’s Lisa Coetzer surged ahead with a two-stroke lead, posting a two-under-par 70. Despite a double-bogey on the 18th, Coetzer displayed remarkable poise throughout the round, especially on the back nine where she made three birdies.
The 14-year-old, who had three birdies on the front nine as well, managed the challenging conditions well and showed maturity beyond her years. Meanwhile, Bobbi Brown and Gia Raad shared second place, with Brown having made a strong comeback from a triple-bogey on the eighth.
Other standout performances came from Kenya’s Michael Karanga, who eagled the 18th to finish at four-under-par, and South African Johndre Ludick, who carded a solid 68. Ludick, who had a recent strong finish at the GolfRSA International Amateur Championship, played bogey-free golf until the final hole.
The tournament, which offers prestigious exemptions for the winner, including entry to The Open at Royal Portrush, is shaping up to be a competitive event with many rising stars ready to challenge the leaders.
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