This year’s Barberton Open on November 9 was one for the record books, as Eddie Wilken took top prize, but not without second-placed Rikus Nel setting a course record for the third time.

Every year golfers from all over flock to the historic golf course in Barberton for the club’s open, and this year was no different. A total of 44 players took part in the competition last weekend, including a pair of golfers who travelled from eSwatini.

This duo, Machawe Maziya and Kanye Nhlengethwa, were so eager to participate in the Barberton Open that they travelled from eSwatini the night before and slept in their bakkie in the club’s car park.

“They had called me the night before, asking if we still had space for them to play, and next thing we know they arrived at the club at 21:00 and spent the night in their bakkie. Now that’s commitment!” said club manager, Wayne Gebhard.

The golfers were tasked with playing 36 holes on Saturday, teeing off as early as 06:30. They were on fire from the get-go, determined to get their hands on the trophy. There were some seriously low scores carded throughout the day, the lowest coming from Rikus Nel who carded a course record for a third time. His eight-under round of 64 broke the previous record of 65 that he shared with two other golfers.

But, unfortunately for Nel, it somehow wasn’t enough to claim top prize. Instead, this year’s top honour went to the Malelane Golf Club member, Eddie Wilken, who carded two rounds of 70 to finish on four under par for the day and take the win by two shots.

While Nel’s first round was record-breaking, his second sadly was not, as he carded a 78 to finish on two-under for the day to claim second. Carel Jacobsz from Pretoria was a further two strokes adrift, finishing level-par for the day courtesy of rounds of 71 and 73.

eSwatini’s Maziya ensured his travel efforts weren’t in vain, winning best nett on 140 for the day. Barberton’s Rassie Breedt had the second best nett of 142 and Ronald Ncube also from Barberton was third with 143. Riaan Klaver earned the nearest to the pin on the third/12th hole, Ruan van Blerk on the eighth/17th and Dennie Taljaardt on the ninth/18th.

Some history on the club record:

The first recorded club record was a 72 set in 1969 by D Rademan. This dropped to 66 in 1979 when three players carded this score. One of these players was none other than legendary South African golfer Gary Player, who shared the record with A Oosthuizen and D Croxon.

In the early 90s the course underwent a change and under the new configuration Rikus Nel set a new course record of 69 in 1992, which was broken three years later when N Koster carded a round of 67. Thereafter, the course returned to its old configuration and the record returned to 66.

Three more players equalled the record before R Blount set a new record of 65 in 2002. This record was equalled by Derick Scullard twice and once by Nel. It has now been bettered once again thanks to Nel’s brilliant round of 64 on Saturday.