COETZEE RULED OUT OVER A ‘SILLY MISTAKE’

THERE were no real surprises during the latest round of premier league golf last Sunday.

Brendan Adlam (Cotswold Downs) had the shortest day of his league career, winning his foursomes with Dean le Vieux 7/6 and then taking his singles 9/7 against Zululand.

But he didn’t have the least golf on the day, as that ‘honour’ went to Graham Dickinson of Maritzburg GC in their match against Kloof.

He had a walkover in both foursomes and singles as, unfortunately, Byron Coetzee is not yet a handicapped member at Kloof, but still at Cotswold Downs.

Coetzee is in the process of moving to Kloof as he is coached by PGA professional Shaun Coetzee.

“It was a silly mistake, pity,” said Dickinson, who would have liked to have played young Coetzee.

But back to the results... Cotswold Downs beat Zululand 10½-1½ with the victory margins comprehensive in the singles except for game between Thami Mbuyazi and Fabrice Ruscoe, with Mbuyazi avoiding a singles whitewash humiliation for Zululand by halving his game with Ruscoe.

It was actually a decent day for Mbuyazi, who won his foursomes game as well.

Durban Country Club hammered their traditional city rivals Royal Durban, winning the game 10-2 after taking the foursomes 4-0.

In the singles, for Royal, Barry McGhee got one over James Buzzard, 3/2 and, in the ‘celeb’ match, Brad Davison beat Lyall McNeill 2/1 to claim bragging rights.

At Kloof, despite Coetzee’s admin blunder, the home team still won the match, 7-5.

Foursomes were shared 2-2, whereafter Kloof dominated, with wins from Stewart Theunissen, Ryan Walsh, Grant Olivier and Darryn Myers picking up wins.

Dylan Underwood beat Darryl Trodd 4/2 to secure the win.

Mount Edgecombe CC returned to winning ways, beating Amanzimtoti 10½-1½, sweeping the foursomes 4-0 and pressing on after that.

Ian Espatilier Noel (Durban CC), who lives in Mauritius but travels to SA for business, won the KZN Senior Classic at Durban CC last week, beating Mike Matthews (Umhlali) and Craig Kamps (Bryanston) in a play-off on the first extra hole.

He played some impressive golf on day two, with his 69 repairing the damage of a first round 77.

Matthews had two rounds of 73, while Kamps shot 76 and 70.

Basil Naidoo, who had led after the first day with 70, had to settle for winning the Super Seniors on 147.

Ganas Naicker (Umfolozi) won the B division on 81 points, five ahead of Jay Govender (Maidstone).

Dave Fisher (Durban CC) was third on 73 points, followed by Piet Strydom (Mount Edgecome CC) on 71 points.

Lawrence Sithole won the B division Super Seniors on 75 points.

The B and C order of merit prizes for top 8 for 2018/19 were as follows: 1 Herran Chellan, 2 Jay Govender, 3 Lawrence Sithole, 4 Robin Singh, 5 Daan Fourie, 6 Roy Singh, 7 Jose de Jesus , 8 Ganas Naicker.

zThe two teams are as follows: Seniors - Basil Naidoo (Durban CC captain), Lynton Beckett (Royal Durban), Kevin Curren (Durban CC), Murray Gilson (Durban CC), Mike Matthews (Umhlali), Eric Mhlongo (Mount Edgecombe CC), Guy O’Connor (Kloof) and Morgan Phillips (Maritzburg GC). Manager - Brian Olsen. Super Senior - Richard Nel (Maritzburg GC), Grant Lister-James (Durban CC), Max Magnussen (Bluff National) and Steve Cullen (Mount Edgecombe CC). Manager Poenie Holms.