Pataki wins Limpopo Closed Championships

Limpopo Golf Union held their biggest annual tournament, Limpopo Closed Championship (Toshiba Cup) at Polo-kwane Golf Club over the weekend.
On Saterday Stroke Play was held and the top 16 players were then invited to play in a 36 hole Match Play.
According to Jean Sadie, Limpopo Golf Union Operations Manager, Cameron Nesmith was out in the lead early on with 3 under par after 15 holes but a double drop 6 on 18 gave him a first 18 total of 71. But the first round lead went to David Wiggill from Hans Merensky on a great 2 under par 70.
“The afternoon saw Nesmith fall away a little but 16-year-old Gerhard Pepler from Mogol Golf Club in Ellisras pushed hard with a 27 hole total off 3 under par with a great 33 on his third nine holes. This put Gerhard in the lead after David Wiggill made eagle on the 7th hole butt lost those two shots again on the ninth with a double bogey 6. With 9 holes to go Gerhard was on -3 and Wiggill on -2,” Sadie said.

He added that the pressure was very high on both players. Gerhard struggeld to cope and lost 3 shots on the last nine holes. Wiggell kept his cool and allthough he lost 3 shots and the last 4 holes he still finished two under for the tournament and the coveted Stroke Play Champion title.
The Match Play saw excitement from the get-go as three players had to play a play-off just to get into the top 16. Local player Azhar Sulliman and Kobus Barkhuizen from Soutpansberg were the two to make it. Sulliman faced Wiggill and surprized him as the match was only decided on the 18th hole. A few matches went to the 19th but again in the afternoon Sulliman had to play against Adam Milanzi and only got the match finished on the 23rd hole where Milanzi made a great par.
Wiggill and Nesmith and Gerhard and Neil Rathman will play out in the Match Play while Milanzi, Edwin Mackays, Jay van der Walt and Barkhuizen will fight it out in the plate division on 7 May.
The tournament is growing in stature every year and sponsored by Toshiba Limpopo. During this same tournament the seniors and mid-ams played for their honours. Malebana Pataki was the senior winner on great scores of 77 and 74 while Peter Masehela was the mid-am winner on 74 and 72.
“We saw some great golf this weekend. Limpopo Golf Union wants to encourage everyone in the province too take part in the open tournaments,” Sadie said. For more information visit www.limpopogolfunion.co.za or contact Sadie on 072 207 1139.
The next open tournament is at Musina this weekend.

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Featured Photo: Malebana Pataki claimed the title of Limpopo Closed senior winner.