Newcastle adventure for Southern KZN golfers
It may not be a full strength team, but they still have a chance of winning.
THE annual KZN Interzone tournament will take place at Newcastle this weekend.
The 36 hole strokeplay champs will be held on Friday, followed by two days of matchplay.
For the first time probably ever, North Coast will not be sending a team.
The reasons for the players’ unavailability are varied. Hopefully they’ll bounce back next year.
Zululand are defending champions, having won at Empangeni last year. But they have a much more inexperienced team this year.
In fact, most of the teams have new players, or far from full strength teams.
Likely teams:
East Griqualand: Sean Baker, Marc Bormann, Rowan Gill, Bruce Eaglestone, Vincent Mbola, Bryce Tarr, Sanele Nyangule and Siyabonga Mbola.
Midlands: Steve Denning, Kalvin Parsons, Luke van der Berg, Sean Hills, Shaun du Preez, Johan Viljoen, Doug Barclay and Albert Sokhela.
Northern KZN: Corne van Deventer, Sipho Hlongwa, Jan Venter, Mason Meyer, Johan Pienaar, James Bonthuysen, Chris Khanyile and Phumlani Mbhele.
Southern KZN: Altaaf Bux, Elvis Khawula, David Rush, Ronnie Mtshaka, Douglas Sima, Patrick Mavundla, Graham Fabricius and Gary Purtell.
Zululand: Ettiene Jonck, Dezen Oosthuizen, Jandri Kraftt, Jarred Good, Lindani Xulu, Andrew Meintjies, Andrew Goddard and Samuel Gouma.
* IT was an odd weekend for premier league results that’s for sure.
For a start, Cotswold Downs, who beat Durban CC ‘1’ last round, lost to Durban CC ‘2’ this time around.
Admittedly, it was at Beachwood on a very hot and windy day. But still, it was the margin of the loss, a stunning 10-2 defeat.
Durban CC ‘1’ beat Umhlali 7-5 at Umhlali in a match that was as close as the scoreline suggests.
“It was 2-2 in the morning and we won five out of the eight in the afternoon without any big wins. Three games went to the 18th,” said Durban CC captain James Buzzard.
It was a brave fight from Umhlali. “We’d better get going soon otherwise we’re in for a long, hard season,” said Umhlali captain Brian Dougherty.
Royal Durban eased to a win over defending champions Kloof, 8-4. “Happy days,” said captain Brad Davison.
Kloof captain Guy O’Connor wasn’t quite as pleased. “Away games are proving to be difficult. The wind was blowing. It was at least a two-club wind. Royal were just too good for us.”
Toti lost 9-3 to title favourites Mount Edgecombe at home. “Long way to go,” said Toti captain Bester Swart.
Southern KZN had a bye. Some suggested this was a good result for them!
The next rounds see Durban CC ‘1’ at home to Kloof, Durban CC ‘2’ play Toti at Beachwood, Southern KZN host Cotswold at Southbroom, and Umhlali at home to Mount Edgecombe.
Royal will have a bye.
* The KZN Senior Amateur champs will be played at Umhlali CC on March 15 and 16.
Thereafter, the team to play in the SA Senior IPT at Ebotse in Benoni in mid April will be selected.
