Martin Couvra will be drawing on fond memories on South African soil when he tees it up at the Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt Golf Estate this week.
The Frenchman became the first European to win all three of South Africa's major amateur titles at the start of 2023, before becoming the seventh amateur in history to win on the Challenge Tour after triumphing in a play-off at the Challenge de España.
The 21-year-old turned professional shortly after his maiden victory and went on to earn his place at the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A, subsequently finishing 46th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
Couvra has enjoyed his return to South Africa with an impressive start to the 2024 Road to Mallorca, including a tie for sixth place at last week’s Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open, and is hoping to build on that this week in George.
“The last couple of weeks have been so much fun and my game is feeling pretty nice,” he said. “I just need to keep playing my game this week and we will see where I end up at the end of the tournament.
“Last year I enjoyed my time in South Africa. I have a lot of good memories in this country from my amateur career, with my caddie and with the French amateur team. I love this place and I know I can play well out here.
“I am looking to earn graduation to the DP World Tour this year and I think I can achieve this if I keep playing my game and remain consistent throughout the season.”
The Dimension Data Pro-Am will be played across Fancourt Estate’s three courses – Outeniqua, Montagu and The Links – and Couvra believes each course presents its own challenges.
“It’s extremely difficult because you have to co-ordinate your practice rounds to cover all three courses and prepare a game plan for each course,” he said.
“All three courses are very nice but unique to each other. The Montagu and Outeniqua are very beautiful to look at but this morning I played The Links and it was amazing. The Outeniqua is definitely shorter than the other two and it is important to put yourself in good positions off the tee.”
A strong field has assembled for this week’s event in George, including three-time DP World Tour winner Brandon Stone, two-time DP World Tour winner Justin Harding and Mikael Lindberg, last week’s Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open champion.
The Dimension Data Pro-Am will begin at 6:45am local time tomorrow, with Couvra teeing it up at 7:29am alongside South African Thomas Aiken, a three-time DP World Tour winner, on the Outeniqua.
