Golfers from all over South Africa converged on Mbombela Golf Club last week to compete in the 54th Jock of the Bushveld, one of the most famous amateur tournaments in the country.

The Jock was played from Monday to Sunday, May 9 to 15.

Seven competitions were played: the Rooikat Better Ball Stableford, the Hi-Q Individual Stableford, the Distell and Coca-Cola Medal Stableford, the

Renasa Medal Stableford, the Hino Mbombela Medal Stableford, the SA Breweries Medal Stableford and the NKP Consultants Jock Open.

A total of 958 rounds of golf were played.

A Jock winner’s trophy is one of the most sought-after in South African amateur golf. Many a player has competed in the week, year after year, never to take one home.

There was entertainment every evening. The camaraderie shared in the clubhouse after a day’s play is as much part of the Jock as every stroke played.

Eric Sithole of Barberton Golf Club won the 36-hole Jock Open with a gross total of 136 strokes.

Sithole was in a class of his own on Sunday, carding 68 in his first and 68 in his second round to finish six under par.

Neville Meyer of Malelane Golf Club was second on 148, 12 strokes back.

Jaco van der Watt, a White River member, was third on 149.

Jaco Potgieter of Mbombela Golf Club was the Jock Open nett winner on 129.

Barberton’s Welcome Mahaya was second on 137.

Johan Rudolph made a hole in one on the 13th during the Renasa Medal Stableford on Thursday and took home R50 000 from Subaru Nelspruit, which had sponsored the prize for the first golfer who aced the 13th on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday competitions.

Results

Rooikat Better Ball Stableford (Monday)
1st: Theo Naidoo and Leon Potgieter – 48 points
2nd: Ed Wallace and Martin van der Merwe – 47
3rd: Franchoa Giliomee and Nardus Gouws – 46 (oco).

Hi-Q Individual Stableford (Tuesday)
1st: Jacques Kruger – 42 points
2nd: JP Bessenger – 41
3rd: Piet Roux – 38 (oco).

Ladies Jock – Better Ball Stableford (Tuesday)
1st: Annemarie van Heerden and Denise Diesel – 49 points
2nd: Louise van Oudtshoorn and Denise West – 43 (oco).

Distell and Coca-Cola Medal Stableford (Wednesday)
A division
1st: Johan Botha – 39 points (oco)
2nd: Mikhail Pheiffer – 39 (oco)
3rd: Kalvin van Rensburg – 38 (oco).
B division
1st: Louis Verreyne – 41 points (oco)
2nd: Kevin Dean – 41 (oco)
3rd: Rykie Crause – 40
Best lady: Nidene Stapelberg – 39.

Renasa Medal Stableford (Thursday)
A division
1st: Jason Moriarty – 39 points (oco)
2nd: Jakes Potgieter – 39 (oco)
3rd: Johan de Kock – 38 (oco).
B division
1st: André Malan Jr – 42 points (oco)
2nd: Tremain Coleman – 42 (oco)
3rd: Hentie Saayman – 41
Gross winner: Dale Burraston – 74 gross
Best lady: Bonita Henrico – 38.

Hino Mbombela Medal Stableford
Gross winner: Justin van Staden – 72 gross.
A division
1st: Dumisa Gama – 42 points
2nd: Nick Elliot Jnr – 39 (oco)
3rd: Franchoa Giliomee – 39 (oco).
B division
1st: Lumard Groenewald – 46
2nd: Waldo Lubbe – 43
3rd: Ettiene Carey – 41
Best lady: Kim Coetzer – 39.

SA Breweries Medal Stableford
A division
1st: Durrel Pillay – 43 points
2nd: Rob McLagan – 41
3rd: Rudi Nel – 39
B division
1st: Rudolph Broderick – 43
2nd: Warwick Morgan – 42
3rd: Jason Davis – 41 (oco)
Best gross: Jason Wiid – 71 gross
Best lady: Kim Coetzer – 33
Order of Merit winner: Hentie Saayman – 119
Spirit of Jock: Dawie Lubbe Group.