James Kamte

James Bongani Kamte (born July 20, 1982), nicknamed "Cobra", is a South African golfer who has been earmarked by South African media as the great black hope. He has been playing on the Sunshine Tour and European Challenge Tours for the past four years, and earned his tour card for the 2008 European Tour season by finishing in the top 30 of the qualifying school.

Early life

Kamte was a football player in his childhood and his nickname, "Cobra", comes from his football days.

Career overview

James Kamte turned professional in 2003 after representing Gauteng in the Under-23 division, and subsequently in the Gauteng Seniors side.

Career highlights

2007 was successful for Kamte. On the Sunshine Tour, he started his run on July 02 by finishing second in the Samsung Royal Swazi Sun Open, closely followed by another second place finish at the Vodacom Origins Tournament in Pretoria a week later.

On the European Challenge Tour, Kamte's best finish has been second place in the Kenya Open in Nairobi, Kenya. He also had a fourth place finish at the Vodafone Challenge in Germany.

After a good run of form, James went on to win his first Sunshine Tour victory at the Seekers Travel Pro-Am tournament at the Dainfern Country Club, Johannesburg on September 8,2007.

European Tour - 2008

Kamte survived the European Tour Qualifying School and finished in T22nd place, right on the cut-off line reserved for the top 30 and ties who earn their playing privileges on the main European Tour for the 2008 season. This makes him the first black South African player to earn European tour playing privileges since Vincent Tshabalala in 1976.

He followed this up by winning the Dimension Data Pro-Am in January 2008, becoming the first black South African golfer to win an event on the summer swing of the Sunshine Tour. [http://www.sunshinetour.com/default.asp?aId=242221]

unshine Tour wins

*2007 (1) Seekers Travel Pro-Am
*2008 (1) Dimension Data Pro-Am

Amateur highlights

*Ranked 5th in South Africa before turning professional
*SA Presidents Team Colours 2003 (Captain)
*2nd North Province Open Strokeplay (2003)
*T3rd SA Amateur Strokeplay 2002
*2nd Nomads Central Gauteng Under-23 Open 2002
*1st Gauteng North Open 2002
*3rd Freestate/Northern Cape Open 2002
*7th Gauteng North Etonic Strokeplay 2002
*Ernie Els Foundation Member 2000-2003
*2nd Gauteng Strokeplay 2001

ee also

*List of African golfers

External links

* [http://www.europeantour.com/publish.sps?syndicatorguid=&rmasiteinstanceguid=&pagegid=%7B20E6AA6B-0225-4C71-BD89-2ACBEE615D69%7D&playerid=33236 Profile on European Challenge Tour]
* [http://www.sunshinetour.info/profiles/KAM005.htm Profile on official Sunshine Tour site]
* [http://www.owgr.com/players/bio.sps?ID=8271 Results in the Official World Golf Rankings site]