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Jean Pierre van der Watt upsets Ivan Verster at the KZN Amateur Match Play
Port Shepstone Golf Club
Port Shepstone Golf Club

Jean-Pierre van der Watt from Gqeberha, South Africa, triumphed over Ivan Verster of Mossel Bay, the current second-ranked amateur in South Africa, with a decisive 4 & 3 victory to claim the Kwazulu-Natal Amateur Match Play Championship.

Watt entered the match play portion of the tournament as the sixth seed, following solid rounds of 75-70 (1-over) in the stroke play section. Verster, who finished as the runner-up, shot 74-71 (1-over) to secure the eighth seed.

En route to his championship win, Watt overcame Verster, in the final and in the semifinals, he defeated the second-seeded Sean Paxton by 2 & 1. He also claimed victories over Luke Truter, the 19th seed, by 3 & 2 in the quarterfinals, Nikhil Gopal by 2 & 1 in the Round of 16, and Cameron Olivant by 3 & 2 in the Round of 32.

Jordan Burnand, who led the stroke play section with impressive rounds of 70-70 (4-under), was eliminated by Verster in a tightly contested quarterfinal match, losing 2 UP.

In 2024, Watt, currently ranked 184th on the AmateurGolf/Golfweek.com Rankings, has played in 12 ranking events with a win previously registered at the Cape Province Amateur in March and five other top-10 finishes to his name. 

Last year, Altin Van Der Merwe, who is ranked No. 1 in the AmateurGolf.com Mid-Amateur Rankings, won the championship.

Results: Kwazulu Natal Match Play
WinSouth AfricaJean Pierre van der WattSouth Africa400
Runner-upSouth AfricaIvan VersterSouth Africa300
SemifinalsSouth AfricaJ.J. SenekalSouth Africa200
SemifinalsSouth AfricaSean PaxtonSouth Africa200
QuarterfinalsSouth AfricaJordan BurnandSouth Africa100

View full results for Kwazulu Natal Match Play

ABOUT THE Kwazulu Natal Match Play

Match play championship preceded by a 36-hole stroke play qualifier.

View Complete Tournament Information

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