DEREK Scullard showed at the East Griqualand champs at Kokstad last Sunday that he’s not quite done with golf just yet.
He’s nicknamed ‘Happy Gilmore’ for two reasons. One is that he bears a passing resemblance to movie star Adam Sandler. “Seriously, I get that a lot,” he laughed.
The other is that his behaviour is, at times, rather similar to the role Sandler plays in the golfing comedy.
Being a perfectionist, Scullard, like Happy, isn’t always able to control his emotions and, while occasionally frowned upon by the authorities, it does make for great entertainment.
He does however claim that he has stopped all that.
At Kokstad, ‘Scully’ dashed the hopes of the locals by beating home town favourite Sean Baker on the third extra hole. “It was good to win again,” he said.
Initially he didn’t think he had a chance after shooting 74 and 70. “By the time I was called for the playoff I’d had a few Captains,” he said.
He broke the locals’ hearts by holing a 25 footer for par on the second extra hole to stay in the game, and then finished things on the next hole, when Baker short-sided himself and couldn’t get up-and-down.
* The first round of the premier league tees off this Sunday with some tantalising matches on offer.
Defending champions Kloof will have an almighty tussle against Mount Edgecombe, who look to be a real force this year. Kloof has home ground advantage and their team is likely to comprise Paul Blackman, Kevin Rundle, Mark Cox, Darryn Myers, Ben Botha, Guy O’Connor, Matthew Main and Gareth Atkinson.
Mount Edgecombe, meanwhile, have Dave Brown, Dale Burraston, Derek Scullard, Simon Taylor, Graeme Inggs, Luke Mayo, and the father and son pair of Russell and Greg McKay.
Zululand travels to Durban Country Club and will need to fire on all cylinders to repeat the upset they caused against the same club last year.
Their team will be selected from Phil Barnes, Rob Seiler, Graham Johnson, Matthew Kidd, Greg Smith, Richard Allan, Kevin Jordan, André Rautenbach and Ettienne Steenkamp
Durban CC have lost Ryan Birnie (IGT), Elton James (not available) and David Watts (relocated to Cape Town to take up a job as the Callaway rep), but are still formidable.
Their team will probably be Lyall McNeill, Murray Gilson, Sean Fenger, James Buzzard, Ashwin Krishen, Clayton Mansfield, Keith Forde and Jason Broomhead.
Royal Durban host Umhlali Country Club.
Royal have lost Bryce Bibby to the paid ranks, but still have a solid unit in Brad Davison, Richard Marrier d’Unienville, Barry McGhee, Gary van der Spuy, Calvin Steinhobel, John Barnes, Kuven Nadrajah and Ruben Coetzer.
Umhlali will pick from Brian Dougherty, Greg Upneck, Andrew Burmester, Eric Jarvie, Mike Mathews, Pat Burgess, Tony Matkovich, Greg Park and Arno van Niekerk.
Amanzimtoti travel south to play Southern KwaZulu-Natal. Toti has a new captain in Bester Swart, but wily veteran Sadeak Khader is still in the line-up which also includes Mike Dunlop, Mark Cowie, Kalvin van Rensburg, Jacques Nel, Mike Igesund and Kirk Newton.
Southern KZN look likely to field Phil le Roux, Leorin Pillay, Nishalin Nelson, Altaaf Bux, Sean Baker, David Rush, Elvis Khawula and Van Zyl Greyling.
