Another product of the GolfRSA conveyor belt of excellence is making a name for himself. So it’s important to get that name right. “I don’t really mind. But if I had to go with either Dan or Daniel it would be Daniel.” We’d better get used to it. Still only 18, Daniel Bennett is about to embark on his next life journey.

When we spoke, South Africa’s top-ranked junior golfer was awaiting his Matric results, having finished up at Curro Hazeldene in Pretoria. “I’m confident of my results, with the exception of maths,” he tells us. He and over 900 000 Matric learners no doubt.

In the distance, in the second half of 2024, is a new life in the US, where Bennett will be taking up business management at the University Of Texas in Austin. It’s the perfect environment in which to shape his golf career. “Yes, it’s the biggest, most well-known student-athlete golf university there is,” he says. Those who have become household names include Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler, and South Africa’s own Brandon Stone and Dylan Frittelli.

Bennett captured the headlines when he set a record 21-stroke victory at the Nomads SA Boys Under-19 Stroke Play Championship at Pecanwood in March 2023. That achievement remains his career highlight.

His 34-under total of 254 was the lowest-to-par round ever scored in South Africa, eclipsing that of Mark McNulty. Bennett’s winning margin was one stroke wider than the previous mark set by Aldrich Potgieter a year earlier.

Life, and golf, has accelerated since then. Among his more recent experiences was competing at the Investec SA Open at Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate and at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek a week later.

He missed the cut on both occasions, shooting 72 and 79 at the SA Open, and 75 and 70 at the Alfred Dunhill. The youngster was in good company at Leopard Creek, scoring lower than the likes of Branden Grace, Shaun Norris, Ross Fisher and other multiple professional winners.

“It was challenging getting my game into shape for those two DP World Tour/Sunshine Tour events. I missed so much golf with schoolwork and not playing any tournaments. I went there straight out of exams and I also had tendinitis in my right wrist,” he says.

After sharing the lead for the Freddie Tait Cup (leading amateur trophy) at the SA Open with Altin van der Merwe after a first-round 72, Bennett found himself holding a cold putter. However, he wouldn’t swap the experience for anything.

“I learned more in those two weeks with the pros than I have done in my entire career so far. Among the things that were new to me was that the week is from the Monday to the Sunday. I’d only ever been used to the junior and amateur set-up which is four to five days max.

“The other difference was the intensity the pros show in their prep, they are a lot more focused. The golf courses are also set up much tougher than the ones we play on and have are more difficult pin placements.”

Bennett had a busy end of year and start to 2024. “I had the Junior Interprovincial before Christmas and I also went up and down to Durban quite a bit, moving my stuff [Christmas was spent with parents down there].”

He has been living with his coach and mentor Nico van Rensburg at Silver Lakes. “Nico has always been there for me and he’s guided me in the right direction. He makes sure I’m always doing the correct things and the fundamentals, and he made my schooling a priority over golf.”