Blaauw bids for Origins booster
JACQUES Blaauw admits he has been struggling in the US, where he plays on the Web.com Tour, but is hopeful returning to the Sishen Golf Club where he is the defending Vodacom Origins of Golf champion will mark his return to form.
“I’ve been struggling this year, just hitting the greens which are so firm in the States. You can’t hold the ball on the green; I missed a lot of greens. But coming here to good memories, so hopefully that will come through this week.”
He hopes those memories inspire the kind of form that saw him win here last year in a dramatic play-off against Theunis Spangenberg.
“I love it here,” he says, “and coming to play here after a while is special because I get to see the boys and everybody.”
Blaauw makes his first start of the season on the Sunshine Tour and says he’s looking forward to a good week.
“I feel like I’m playing better and I hope the scores will be good. I feel like my driving is good and I’m putting better. It feels good to be back home but I need to start making some cash out here.”
So, while the 31-year old Els Club Copperleaf professional is ranked 75th on the Web.com Tour’s money list, he is yet to make an impact on the local circuit this season.
A successful title defence in Kathu will not only put cash into his pocket but might mark his return to form and hopefully pave the way for more good results.
Meanwhile, West Coast golfer De Villiers Uys of Xamarin Country Club in Lambert’s Bay successfully defended his Sanlam Cancer Challenge title at the Gary Player Country Club this week during the 25th Sanlam Cancer Challenge National Final.
Uys was four points back but managed to overhaul former Sunshine Tour pro and first round leader Schalk van der Merwe, from Namibia’s Gobabis Golf Club, with an excellent round that included four birdies and just four bogeys. Uys ended six points ahead of Van der Merwe and Saga Reddy of Umkomaas Golf Club.
Joyce Hughes of Dainfern Country Club succeeded in making her second visit to the National Finals a winning one as she claimed the women’s crown at Sun City. Young Nicola Schoeman finished second. – Sunshine Tour-ANA