Malelane’s Eddie Wilken triumphs in the 2024 Barberton Open
Wilken owed his Barberton victory to consistency across his two rounds.
This year’s Barberton Open was one for the record books, as Malalane golfer Eddie Wilken took top prize, winning by two shots to add another title to his 2024 cabinet.
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, 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 the club manager, Wayne Gebhard.
The golfers were tasked with playing 36 holes on November 9, 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, but none would lead to success.
Instead, Wilken, who wasn’t close to the lowest round of the day, proved consistency was the key to success. The Malelane Golf Club member played exactly to his course handicap and carded two rounds of 70 to finish on four under par for the day and take the win by two shots.
The victory in Barberton adds to Wilken’s triumph in this year’s Malelane Open, where he won by one shot in June. There, just as in Barberton, he defeated Barberton Golf Club member Rikus Nel.
Nel’s first round in Barberton was record-breaking, setting a new course record with a round of 64. But his second was not memorable by any means, 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.
