South Africa’s number one amateur Matthew Kent announced on Saturday that he would join the paid ranks with his professional debut in the Dimension Data Pro-Am at Sun City next week.
Only hours after being named South Africa’s number one amateur for the second year running at the 2005 BMW Golf Digest Awards, the 17-year old from Cape Town confirmed his decision to join the stable of Andrew ”Chubby” Chandler at International Sports Management.
ISM also manages Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Paul McGinley, alongside South African professionals Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, Richard Sterne and James Kingston.
Among the many highlights in Kent’s impressive amateur career was representing South Africa in the winning 2004 World Cup team and the Eisenhower Trophy. He closed off his 2004 season with a record 18-under-par victory in the World Junior Golf Championships held at The Bears Paw in Osaka, Japan.
”I am very excited to start my professional career. I have always wanted to play professional golf and my greatest ambition is to compete at the highest level,” said Kent.
”We all look forward to help Matthew realise his dreams,” said Bell. ”He is a fine young man and a tremendous prospect.”
Kent’s first appearance as a professional at the Dimension Data Pro-Am will be alongside Southern Africa greats Nick Price, David Frost and Fulton Allem. – Sapa