Mount Edgecombe pull off a double in Champion of Champions

MOUNT Edgecombe pulled off a rare double at the Renasa Insurance Champion of Champions at Kloof Country Club last weekend.

Dave Brown won his second title in the men’s division on scores of 70 and 68, while Bronwyn Rae took the women’s crown on 75 and 77.

Mount Edgecombe nearly produced a double 1-2, with Siyanda Mwandla and Courtenay James both placing third.

Brown, who won the title in 2007, overcame a four-shot deficit to win, overtaking Southbroom’s Gavin Sole with some great short game skill and superb putting.

He flew out of the blocks on Sunday, going four under on the front nine despite the wet weather and delayed start.

Sole struggled, missing a tiddler on the fifth hole to let Brown in.

In the end Brown won by two, showing he still has what it takes to win events.

For Sole, it was a fourth runner-up finish at an event which seems determined to deny him the chance to plant a tree on the course – a privilege given to the winners.

There was some consolation for him when he won the lucky draw afterwards.

Leading scores: David Brown (Mount Edgecombe) 70 68; Gavin Sole (Southbroom) 66 74; Siyanda Mwandla (Mount Edgecombe) 73 72; Gareth Atkinson (Kloof) 75 71; Kenneth Commins (Bluff National) 73 76; James Buzzard (Durban CC) 76 73; Murray Gilson (Gowrie Farm) 72 77; Sipho Hlongwa (Ladysmith) 76 74; Kalvin Parsons (Victoria) 74 77; Lindani Mthiyane (Umkomaas) 76 76; Leon Naidoo (Greater Durban) 75 77.

The women’s championship also had its fair share of excitement, with Bronwyn Rae finishing strongly to see off Port Shepstone’s Lizzie Currie. It was her debutwin.``

Rae shot 75 and 77 while Currie had 80 and 75. After 27 holes the scores were level, before Rae’s solid closing nine sealed the title for her.

Leading scores: Bronwyn Rae (Mount Edgecombe) 75 77; Lizzie Currie (Port Shepstone) 80 75; Courtenay James (Mount Edgecombe) 76 86; Jessica Surety (Royal Durban) 82 80; Jane Mackenzie (Ladysmith) 84 80.

The club thanked sponsors Renasa Insurance and Cooke Fuller Garrun for their continued support.

The original idea of bringing together the men’s champion of every club in KwaZuluNatal was the brainchild of the late Des Hamilton, a past captain of Kloof.

Since that occasion 43 years ago when the first ever Champion of Champions was held with such outstanding success, this golf tournament has grown in stature and popularity year by year.

It has produced many top winners since Pat Kennedy of Zululand defied the elements in a storm-drenched first final (his group even survived a lightning strike).

He set the pattern for a tournament that has now become a household name in KZN golf circles.

The Ladies’ Champion of Champions was inaugurated in 1977 and for the past 10 years has been played over two days in conjunction with the men’s tournament.