Young gun Schwartzel shoots sparkling 64

CHARL SCHWARTZEL, a South African youngster who will celebrate his 19th birthday on August 31 (the same day Padraig Harrington turns 32), lit up The K Club yesterday when he shot a remarkable eight under par 64 to get within one stroke of joint leaders Phillip Price and Darren Clarke at the halfway stage of the Smurfit European Open.

Schwartzel became the second youngest player to secure his European Tour card through the qualifying school last November when, at the age of 18 years and 2 months, he claimed 24th place at Emporda and Pals Golf Clubs in Spain. He arrived at the school as a highly promising amateur with victories in the Brabazon Trophy (English stroke play championship) and representing South Africa in the Eisenhower Trophy in Malaysia. He also tied 15th in the South African Open.

Interestingly, though, he finished 16 strokes behind his compatriot Louis Oozthuizen in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin last year.