On his way to winning the R&A Africa Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek in February, Bryan Newman spent his nights in, quietly doing homework.

It’s what you do at 17, apparently, more so when you are switched on, keen to counter-balance the rigours of sport and intent on showing up well to your suitors at Arizona State University, where he will study next year.

Newman is running hot, his World Amateur Golf Ranking positioning him at 796 (as at the end of February), a climb of 339 places based on three wins and 22 top-10 finishes at 42 events. Locally, he ranks among the top dogs with two Open Amateur wins, five junior victories (two at U19 and three as an U15) and 13 top-10 finishes in the 2024 season, along with two top-10s and a win to get 2025 off to a flying start.

His GolfRSA Open Amateur ranking is an encouraging fourth, with his GolfRSA Boys U19 ranking fifth.

“It was unreal, especially as it’s probably the best course in the country. It was playing tough, but it was fun alongside fellow South Africans. I was hitting some of the best shots I have ever managed.

“I have the mindset to keep going, and I’m proud to say I didn’t get ahead of myself. I don’t block stuff out when I play. It’s important to sometimes forget about golf between shots, and take in the nature or whatever.”

One of the happy corollaries of Newman’s up-country win was automatic entry to The Open Championship, to be played at Royal Portrush in July.

Nervous? Not a bit – it’s barely sunk in for the North West teen. “I guess it won’t happen until I get there.”

He also earned invitations to the Sunshine Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, the Investec South African Open and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq.

Golf has been a constant in his life, thanks in the main to his father, Andrew, who introduced him to the game as a toddler. He barely remembers going down to the chipping green with his dad, spending hours hitting shots.

At the age of seven he entered his first tournament, a nine-hole event played off short tees, and was chuffed to hit 49. “I thought I did pretty well, and then I saw some kids were shooting 38. But I really enjoyed it.”

Although he lives at Blair Atholl in Gauteng, the site of Gary Player’s former farm, and practises and plays there, Newman is affiliated to North West, having earned his card at Pecanwood. “I really enjoyed North West, no other reason. I got straight into inter-provincials, so I’ve always been there.”

When he was younger, his parents knew he could be found beavering away in the massive deep bunkers at Blair Atholl, as good a way as any for a youngster to hone his game.

Having experienced a major growth spurt last year, he made several swing adjustments, which appear to have worked out well. He considers his iron accuracy a strength, something that came to the fore at Leopard Creek where he nailed many greens in regulation.

His more immediate focus is on his putting. “Previously, I was a good putter,” he says. “But the past few months I’ve been a bit average. I’m working on it now.”

ERNEST BLIGNAULT/GOLFRSA/R&A/R&A VIA GETTY IMAGES