It was close enough to exactly 24-hours to the hour since news of the joint USGA/R&A announcement and the 2028 start to ‘reeling-in’ the golf ball that reigning Amateur Champion and the No. 1 world-ranked amateur Christo Lamprecht launched a 418-yard down the last hole on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
The 22-year-old South African then had just 126-yards to the pin though he took three shots for his birdie ‘4’ in his eventual round of a five-under-par 67 on the host Leopard Creek course.
Lamprecht’s drive, as good and impressive it was, was 24-yards shy of India’s Shiv Kapur’s drive of 442-yards he set 11-years ago at the 2012 Madeira Islands Open while two years later in 2014 Belgium ‘bomber’ Nicolas Colsaerts launched a 447-yard drive down the 18th on day one of the 2014 Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
South African Christo Lamprecht launches a 418-yard drive down the last day one 2023 Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek
It was at 2pm UK time yesterday (Wednesday 6th December) the USGA and R & A jointly released their decision to initiate rules from January 2028 to curb the distance the golf ball is now being hit and with Lamprecht driving off the last to end the day finding himself just two adrift of the lead held by countryman Robin Williams.
Of course, there’s no correlation between the ruling bodies news nor Lamprecht’s drive but it just seems an uncanny co-incidence that he should drive the ball 400-yards plus.
Lamprecht’s drive, as good and impressive as it was, is still 24-yards shy of India’s Shiv Kapur’s drive of 442-yards he set 11-years ago at the 2012 Madeira Islands Open while two years later Belgium-born golfing bomber Nicolas Colsaerts launched a 447-yard drive down the 18th on day one of the 2014 Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
Colsaerts Hits Longest Tour Drive Of 447-Yards On Opening Day Of Wales Open.
The young South African’s score has him sharing fourth place and one clear of countryman Charl Schwartzel who Lamprecht will join next April at Augusta, one of his rewards in winning The Amateur at the Hillside course in England.
“It’s been a great year for me with a lot of good golf”, said Lamprecht.
“It’s great to end off a really good year by coming home and playing in front of home crowds. Being part of Golf RSA makes you immensely proud to play in the Alfred Dunhill Championship here at Leopard Creek.
“The reason why this is one of the best courses in the world is because it’s a true championship golf course that, while testing you, is also very fair. If you play good golf it rewards you, and if you hit bad shots it punishes you.
“Belief is so important in this game. You’ve got to believe you’re good enough and then go out there and work hard enough. And then I’ve also learnt to have fun. Know your golf game and enjoy it.”
Well said Christo!
