Banele: a star in the making
After rounds of 79 and 72 (gross), Banele Mavuso was crowned as the junior winner of the Middelburg Club Championships at the Country Club this past weekend.
And what is more, the 16 year-old Middie, who has a handicap of three, ended the competition overall in the third place – with totals of 151 (gross) and 145 (net).
“I played with a new driver and was not yet used to it, which meant that I struggled for the first 18 holes.”
However, he certainly was back in the swing of things during the next 18, playing a superb round of 72. A double bogey on the last hole the only blot on an otherwise stellar performance.
“But that is golf,” he says with a rueful smile. “Everything does not always go according to plan.”
After a second place at the junior provincial tournament, Banele aims for a big 2015. And he certainly has the skill and the commitment to make it a memorable year.
He trains three times a week at the Country Club’s range and if he has a tournament on the Sunday, he plays a practice round on the course the day before.
His hero is Rory McIlroy and while the Irish golfer’s strengths are his natural ability and full swing, Banele lists his iron play as his strong point. “With the new driver, I can also hit the ball between 260 and 270 metres.”
“Golf is a fun sport and as an added bonus you get to socialise and train with other players!”
Banele aims to qualify for the PGA Tour in the years to come. And with the past weekend’s success, the foundation blocks have certainly been laid for a bright future.
• Banele’s fellow pupil at Hoërskool Middelburg, AJ Meyer, ended the competition in the overall fifth place.
• MCC Club Championships:
Overall winner (men): Nico Uys (147 gross)
Runner up (men): Steve Smit (149 gross)
Overall winner (women): Sharon Schutte (174 gross)
All day net (women): Megan Dickson
All day net: Willie van Tonder (139)
AM gross: Ewald Rautenbach (74)
PM gross: Hanru Kilian (75)
AM net: Gerrit Buurman (69)
PM net: Gerhard Grobler (70)
A Division winner: Tommy Strydom (145 net)
B Division winner: Neels Schoeman (144 net)
C Division winner: Chris Koegelenberg (39 ips)
All day junior winner: Banele Mavuso (145 net).
