Saulez in SA team for World Champs

MATT Saulez (Durban Country Club) has had to withdraw from the KwaZulu-Natal team to play in the South African IPT in September.

He’ll be playing in the Eisenhower Trophy at the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship in Maynooth, Ireland shortly before the IPT in September. His teammates are GolfRSA national squad members Jovan Rebula and Wilco Nienaber. Then he’s off to the European Q-School in an attempt to get his professional career going.

Unfortunately, the timing of these three big events is such that he has had to eliminate one. This was no easy decision for a young man who has dearly wanted to win the IPT for his province, despite being based in Pretoria at the high performance centre,

It’s a pity, butsuch is life for the top amateurs. His place will be taken by Byron Coetzee of Cotswold Downs, who won the recent KZN Closed at Selborne Park and has a national ranking of 33. ● National events:Luke Mayo (Mount Edgecombe CC) was tied for fifth at the recent Limpopo Strokeplay at Koro Creek Estate.

He had rounds of 71,71 and 72. Last weekend he was again in the top 10, finishing tied for seventh at the Border Strokeplay at East London Golf Club on scores of 74,73 and 69.

This has seen him secure his ranking of 11th in the country. Siyanda Mwandla (Mount Edgecombe CC) was tied for 12th on 74,76 and 69.

Dylan Underwood (Kloof CC) and Mathew Hands (Simbithi) were tied for 17th, while Thabiso Magwaza (Umhlali CC) was tied for 19th. ● Mid-amateur: The annual KZN Mid-Amateur champs will be played at Durban CC this Sunday (5th).

Quite a few of the regulars have not entered for one reason or another, including Lyall McNeill, Brad Davison, Dave Brown, Dale Burraston, Murray Gilson, Sean Fenger and Keith Forde.It seems that it could be the end of a very special era for mid-amateur golf in the province. But as always, new opportunities beckon for those pushing through.

Derek Scullard (Mount Edgecombe CC), the number one ranked mid-amateur in the country, will look to win in his home province and has a pretty decent track record at the famed layout.

Clive Lazarus is a darkhorse of sorts, enjoying a revival in form of some note. He could sneak a surprise at his home course.

● Sanlam Cancer Challenge The south section on the Sanlam Cancer Challenge was played at Umdoni Park Golf Club last weekend.

Shane Gaia (Kloof CC) won the A division, followed byEugene Sicelo (Chatsworth) and Deen Naicker (Wyebank).

B division honours went to Matthew Pravda (Wyebank) with Barry Oehme (Port Edward) and Menolin Moodley (Chatsworth) in second and third respectively.

Ashraf Ismail (Victoria CC) won the C division from Brian Morton (Selborne Park) and Corrie Steyn (Kokstad).

The north section finals were played at Victoria Country Club. Horst Wortmann won the A division - no other results forthcoming yet.

The national finals will be played at Sun City on October 8 and 9.

● League : Camelot won the C division league this season. The team was captained by Brad Grant and comprised Horst Wortmann, Nick Richards, Clint Chant, Gareth Campbell, Lloyd Bolton, Jason Erdy, Craig Bell, Chad Bell, Sean Phillips, Darren Campbell and Nick Dancer.

In the premier league, there is still one more round to go, but the final on September 2 looks likely to be played between Durban CC and Cotswold Downs.

In the A league, Southern KZN will play either Zululand or Royal Durban ‘A’, while in the B league Ethekweni will most likely face Zimbali.