Anton Smit’s hole-in-one steals the show at Sages championships
Anton Smit recorded a hole-in-one on the 13th hole at the Sages regional championships, his second in more than 30 years of playing golf.
HOEDSPRUIT – The Drakensig Golf Club was buzzing with excitement on Saturday, September 12, as senior golfers gathered for the South African Golfing Ambassadors Society (Sages) regional championships, with local golfer Anton Smit providing one of the day’s biggest highlights.
Smit, from Hoedspruit, produced a memorable moment on the 13th hole when he recorded a hole-in-one.
The ace was Smit’s first hole-in-one in a Sages competition and his second in more than 30 years of playing golf.
His achievement added an extra sense of celebration to an already competitive day on the course, as golfers aged 50 and older battled for regional honours in the medal/stableford competition.
“Seeing a moment like that on the course is incredibly special,” said Kaylee Swart. “A hole-in-one is something every golfer dreams of, and for Anton to achieve his second one after more than 30 years of playing is a fantastic accomplishment.”
Regional champs crowned
The competition produced strong performances across the various categories:
| Category | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Regional champion men gross | Karl Jaacks | 69 |
| Regional champion ladies gross | Lynette Strauss | 91 |
| Regional nett champion men | Jono Soames | 69 nett |
| Regional nett champion ladies | Mandy Rossouw | 66 nett |
Age category winners
| Category | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s 50-59 net | Karl Jaacks | 68 |
| Men’s 60-64 net | Jono Soames | 69 |
| Men’s 65-69 net | Sarel Van Zyl | 72 |
| Ladies’ 60-plus net | Mandy Rossouw | 66 |
| Men’s 70-plus | Rod Boyle | 70 |
Nearest-to-the-pin prizes
| Player | Holes |
|---|---|
| Karl Jaacks | 2, 11, 7 and 16 |
| Anton Smit | 4 and 13 |
| Lourens Schoeman | 9 and 18 |
Whiskey draw
The day also featured a whiskey draw, with Charles van der Westhuizen taking the prize, sponsored by Mark Acutt.
For Swart, the championships were about more than just scores and trophies.
“It is wonderful to see golfers coming together, competing, enjoying the sport and creating memories on the course. Anton’s hole-in-one was certainly a highlight, but the performances across all the age categories also showed the talent and competitive spirit of the players,” she said.
