Ashton teen golfer grabs top-10 at prestigious Irish tournament
The Ashton International Ballito College pupil competed at the Lough Erne Resort from July 29 to 31. Now in its fifth year, the tournament attracted 250 elite young golfers aged six to 19 from more than 40 countries.
The event featured multiple age divisions and was hosted across two world-class courses: the Castle Hume Course and the Faldo Championship Course, designed by six-time Major Champion Sir Nick Faldo.
Competing in the Boys U15 division, Matthew finished tied ninth in a field of 40 players. He posted scores of 73, 81 and 81 over three rounds, ending the tournament at 20 over par. His opening round on the Castle Hume Course was solid, but the Faldo Championship Course proved more challenging in the final two rounds.
'It was a great experience to be able to play in the Champion of Champions tournament and to play golf in Ireland,' said Matthew.
The five-star Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen is located in the country's only island town and is just under two hours from Belfast.
Entry into the tournament was by invitation only, with players selected based on top-three finishes in affiliated events within their home countries. Matthew earned his spot after placing second in the 2024 SA Kids Junior Africa Challenge at San Lameer last August.
'I learned a lot and am extremely proud of myself, it was one of the best times of my life,' he said.
Ashton's head of media, Morgyn Prinsloo, said the school is incredibly proud of him for his accomplishment and the dedication it took to get there.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
7 hours ago
- The South African
Explained: Why Kaizer Chiefs signed Asanele Velabayi
Kaizer Chiefs have a new weapon for the Betway Premiership battle, and this one comes with the full blessing of the boss himself. Naturena has been buzzing with talk of fresh signings, but few announcements have carried the same weight as this. Kaizer Chiefs know when a player is more than just a squad number – and this deal was worth the fight. The spotlight is now firmly on Asanele Velebayi, the versatile 22-year-old who left Cape Town Spurs under a cloud of contract drama but now wears the famous number 17 jersey in Soweto. Orlando Pirates news: 38-player squad and loaned superstar Asanele Velebayi unveiled at Naturena for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. Image: @unplayable/X 'We are happy to finally have Asanele with us,' Motaung Jr told the club's website. 'He is a great addition, and we believe he will add significant value because he is a perfect fit for our game model and the culture we have here at the club.' Orlando Pirates news: Congolese midfielder and Ouaddou support Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- The Citizen
Fun day of fire drills and football for Osizweni children
Fun day of fire drills and football for Osizweni children The Ballito Lions Club treated 45 underprivileged pupils from Osizweni Primary School to a day of sport and fun at Townsend Park on Saturday. The school, located in Driefontein in Upper Tongaat, has 200 pupils and does not charge fees. Despite government funding, it still faces shortages of uniforms, stationery, food, furniture and maintenance. Earlier this year, the Lions donated 80 chairs, shoes and jerseys for winter. 'This school is in dire straits and needs a lot of assistance,' said club president Paul Naidoo. The children, accompanied by teachers, travelled to the Lions' Ballito clubhouse for breakfast before playing soccer and basketball. A highlight was an inspirational talk and fire safety demonstration by the KwaDukuza Fire and Emergency Service. 'KwaDukuza municipality was generous enough to send the team. They told the children they too could be firefighters one day,' said Naidoo. After a braai lunch, the pupils enjoyed music and dancing before receiving grocery hampers. It was the third time in recent years the Lions have hosted Osizweni Primary. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- The Citizen
Ashton teen golfer grabs top-10 at prestigious Irish tournament
Ballito's Matthew Smith secured a top-10 finish at the prestigious Champion of Champions Junior Golf Tournament in Northern Ireland. The Ashton International Ballito College pupil competed at the Lough Erne Resort from July 29 to 31. Now in its fifth year, the tournament attracted 250 elite young golfers aged six to 19 from more than 40 countries. The event featured multiple age divisions and was hosted across two world-class courses: the Castle Hume Course and the Faldo Championship Course, designed by six-time Major Champion Sir Nick Faldo. Competing in the Boys U15 division, Matthew finished tied ninth in a field of 40 players. He posted scores of 73, 81 and 81 over three rounds, ending the tournament at 20 over par. His opening round on the Castle Hume Course was solid, but the Faldo Championship Course proved more challenging in the final two rounds. 'It was a great experience to be able to play in the Champion of Champions tournament and to play golf in Ireland,' said Matthew. The five-star Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen is located in the country's only island town and is just under two hours from Belfast. Entry into the tournament was by invitation only, with players selected based on top-three finishes in affiliated events within their home countries. Matthew earned his spot after placing second in the 2024 SA Kids Junior Africa Challenge at San Lameer last August. 'I learned a lot and am extremely proud of myself, it was one of the best times of my life,' he said. Ashton's head of media, Morgyn Prinsloo, said the school is incredibly proud of him for his accomplishment and the dedication it took to get there. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
