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Cape Town - South African amateur Jayden Schaper will make his debut at the Dubai Desert Classic this week.
Schaper will play in his third European Tour event after receiving a tournament invitation alongside other amateur Joshua Hill from England.
Schaper made a massive impression by finishing tied for sixth on 13-under at the South African Open at Randpark Golf Club.
He become the first South African amateur since Ernie Els in 1989 to finish in the top six of the world's second oldest championship.
Heading into this week, the 19-year-old believes that his SA Open performance could give him the confidence to contend.
"To come off that great experience playing an event like that, I'll approach this week the same. There shouldn't be too much difference between tournaments," Schaper told the European Tour website.
"Basically, everyone wants to come out and go for the win... I'm just going to take it one step at a time, one shot at a time and one hole at a time and I'm just going to take it as it comes.
"I will just try and enjoy the experience overall."
There are 15 South Africans teeing off this week in Dubai including SA's top ranked golfer Louis Oosthuizen.
Schaper will get his opening round underway on Thursday alongside Scotland's Kalle Samooja and Englishman Harry Konig at 15:10 SA time.
- Compiled by Lynn Butler
