Young SA golfer joins pro ranks

Golf reporter

South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli announced that he has turned professional and signed with IMG, the world’s leading sports, entertainment and media company, for worldwide management and marketing representation.

Frittelli will make his professional debut this week at the BMW International in Cologne, Germany, courtesy of a sponsor’s invitation after an outstanding amateur career which has seen him spend the past four years representing the University of Texas and finishing his college career ranked third in the final individual college rankings.

Born in Pretoria, Frittelli won the 2008 South African Boys Championship and was ranked number one on both the South African Amateur rankings and South African Junior Rankings before heading to the renowned University of Texas on a golf scholarship. His college career was littered with accolades and awards, culminating at the NCAA Championships when he sunk a 30-foot birdie putt to win the NCAA Championships for the Texas Longhorns at Riviera Country Club two weeks ago.

During his excellent senior year, Frittelli earned 1st Team All American status and won the 2012 Byron Nelson Award, which is given to the collegiate golfer with the best playing, academic and community service record.

Frittelli explained: “I had an amazing experience at college, developing both my golf and myself and now I feel I am ready for life as a professional golfer and can’t wait to get started.

“I am delighted to be teaming up with IMG who I believe are best placed to guide me through the next phase of my career. They have all the knowledge and experience of working with the best players at every stage of their careers and, with offices around the world, they have the global coverage I hope I will need as my career develops.”

He continued, “I am very grateful to BMW for giving me the chance to start my career at such a prestigious event and hope I can do this fantastic opportunity justice. I have only played in Europe once and that was also in Germany, so I’m really looking forward to going back.”

Duncan Reid of IMG London will manage Frittelli with assistance from Robyn Cox and Jacques Retief at IMG South Africa and Ben Walter in the USA.

Reid commented: “Dylan has had a phenomenal amateur career and, after four well-spent years honing his game and gaining experience at the University of Texas, we believe he is ready for a very successful professional golfing career.

“We think he has an extremely exciting future ahead of him and look forward to working with him.”

Guy Kinnings added: “There is a real buzz among the golf aficionados about Dylan. He seems to have it all… talent, results and a charismatic personality.

“We are very happy he has chosen IMG and we are confident that he will follow in the footsteps of some of our other great South African clients, such as Gary Player and Retief Goosen.”