Young guns and good old class prevail
CLUB championships never fail to disappoint in terms of interest and excitement.
This year some young guns made the step up, while some of the “older guys” showed that class is permanent.
Jono Broomhead, still a junior, is starting to fulfill his potential, and won the Durban Country Club champs for the first time on scores of 70 and 73. Another junior, Sebastian Terblanche, has been in increasingly good form, and won at Royal Durban for the first time on a score of five under par.
The nomadic Derek Scullard, now a member at Mount Edgecombe Country Club, showed he still has oodles of class and dominated a strong field to win on seven under par.
Luke Mayo was the runner-up three shots behind.
There aren’t many, if any, who know their way around Cotswold Downs like Brendan Adlam, who won for the fourth time, this time scoring 76 and 70. Grant Olivier and Dennis Mack were second and third.
Down the road at Kloof Country Club, Gareth Atkinson added his name to the trophy for the second time, carding one under par to seal the deal, winning by four from Stephen du Plessis.
Morgan Phillips cleaned up at Maritzburg Golf Club again. It’s the fourteenth time, he thinks, he’s not actually sure. He scored 75 on day one and finished in style with a 67.
Former tennis pro Kevin Ullyett won his second strokeplay title at Umhlali Country Club, carding 70 and 76. Runner-up was Koenie Erasmus on 78 and 73.
The Golfers Club KZN Senior Championships, held at Victoria Country Club on March 12 and 13, was won by Steve Cullen, who now plays for Mount Edgecombe CC, having moved from the White River area recently.
He needed four extra holes to see off Grant Lister-James of Durban CC. The pair finished on three over par 145, with Morgan Phillips (Maritzburg GC) one shot behind.
There was made-for-TV drama on the third extra hole (the long 10th with the green in front of the clubhouse) where Lister-James holed a long putt from off the green.
Cullen replied by chipping in to keep things going, and ultimately triumph with a calm par on the downhill first hole.
Richard Bruyns of River Club won the super seniors A division on 147. Hometown hopeful Preggie Naidoo won the B division on 78 points, with Ganas Naicker (Amorello) next on 76 points.
The B division super seniors winners was Ed Wallace (Umhlali CC) on 71 points.
Basil Naidoo (Greater Durban GC) will captain the KZN senior team to play in the SA Senior IPT at Simola from April 24 to 28. Other members are Lynton Beckett (Royal Durban GC), Steve Cullen (Mount Edgecombe CC), Kevin Curren (Durban CC), Glynn Forman (Durban CC), Grant Lister-James (Durban CC), Morgan Phillips (Maritzburg GC) and Alex Pillay (Maidstone GC).
The reserve is Guy O’Connor (Kloof CC) and the team manager is Brian Olsen.
Congratulations to Combrinck Smit (Vryheid GC) and Martin Rohwer (Kloof CC) on obtaining their Sunshine Tour cards. Rohwer finished on -18, two behind the winner, Herman Loubser. Smit was on -10 after five rounds.