Sipho takes the double

This last Friday evening saw the Ladysmith branch of the National Weather Predicting Society hold a meeting in the bar, and with the use of all the latest technology and at least 15 different weather apps on various makes of smart phones, the conclusion from the committee chairman was that we were in for a cold and wet weekend.

However, there were a few old faces that probably know the weather patterns of Ladysmith better than most – Ewan Cameron, Tony Milligan and ex golf captain Shane Botha were seen playing on Friday afternoon in bright sunshine.

It was really great to have your company and catch up in the pub after your game – hope to see you all and other ex-members of the club more frequently.

No competition was organised over the weekend due to the Cloverleaf Club’s Match-Play finals taking place over Saturday and Sunday, in which the top 16 golfers from the Club Championship held two weeks earlier are eligible to play.

The format of match-play is that you all play off the shoulder (no handicaps are used) and the player who finishes the hole in the least number of shots wins that hole. The player who wins the most holes goes through to the next round.

The draw was done on Thursday and was seeded, which hopefully sees the better golfers going on to contest the final, with the losers of the first round going on to play for the Plate.

The golfers teed off from 8am and the results went according to plan, with the top-seeded players progressing to the next round.
The draw for the semi-finals worked out very well, with Sipho Hlongwa squaring up against past champion Vernon Naidoo. In the other match, Wayne Bentley took on old friend Murray Hume. The word around the fairways is that the friendship went out the window and that a fierce duel took place on the greens, with putters at five paces.

At the end of it all, Murray emerged victorious, as did Sipho in the next match against Vernon. The Plate semi-finals were won by Colin Woodall with a fine victory over Themba Ntuli, and Bheki Mbokazi eventually beating Andrew Bouwer.

The weather, having played its part, saw the finalists tee off early on Sunday morning and both matches followed a similar pattern, with Sipho and Colin getting off to good starts which left Murray and Bheki having to play catch-up golf.

As is the game of golf, no two games are the same – both Murray and Bheki, who had putted well the day before, struggled on the greens and could not sink those crucial putts when it mattered.

Well done to Colin, who has not played much golf lately, for winning the Plate and to Sipho who made it the double in winning both the Match-Play and the Club Championship – good to see all your practicing and hard work paying off.

Sipho will represent the club at the Match-Play finals later in the year.

What’s up at the club:
Saturday 14th – Mortimer Fedauto Monthly Mug;
Sunday 15th – Mick’s Rules bowls;
Saturday 21st – NTT GM Betterball;
Sunday 22nd – Mortimer Toyota League;
Wednesday 25th – FNB Skaapdag;
Saturday 28th – Hamilton Golf Day.

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