McClean heads Irish challenge in African Amateur Strokeplay

Matthew McClean en route to victory in last year’s US Mid-Amateur Championship at Erin Hills. Picture: USGA

US Mid-Amateur champion Matt McClean shot a rollercoaster 72 to lead the Irish challenge in the African Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Leopard Creek.

The Malone man is tied for 16th place on two-over par, 10 strokes behind reigning Amateur champion Aldrich Potgieter from South Africa.

Potgieter fired a five-under-par 67 to lead by one stroke on eight-under-par from compatriot Fabrizio de Abreu, who carded 68, while Scotland’s Gregor Graham (69) and South Africa’s Pascal Gunther (70) are tied for third on five-under.

McClean birdied the first, the par-three fifth and seventh to turn in three-under.

He picked up another shot at the 10th to get to two-under par for the championship but bogeyed the par-five 13th, 15th and 18th coming home, as well as the par-four 14th.

Naas’ Robert Brazill is the next best of the Irish, tied for 21st on three-over after a 74

Castle’s Robert Moran and Royal Dublin’s Richard Knightly shot 76s to share 27th on five-over with Carton House’s Marc Boucher, who recovered from a triple bogey seven at his opening hole, the 10th, to shoot level par.

North and South of Ireland champion Hugh Foley from Royal Dublin is joint 38th on seven-over after bogeys at his last two holes forced him to settle for a 74.

Galgorm Castle’s Joshua Hill recovered from four-over after eight holes to card a 74 for a share of 41st on eight-over, while Forrest Little’s Jack McDonnell turned in level but had a forgettable back nine of 46 and signed for an 81 to share 53rd on 11-over.