Hot start for league golfers

THINGS couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for the MaxProp EG Southern KwaZulu-Natal premier and central league golf teams recently.

The premier team played against Amanzimtoti at Selborne Park and dominated affairs with a 9,5-2,5 win on a belter of a day.

The morning foursomes were clinched 3,5-05.

Van Zyl Greyling and David Rush halved their game, fighting back from three down after six holes.

Elvis Khawula and Altaaf Bux won their game 3/2, while Nishalin Nelson and Phil le Roux eased to a 4/2 victory.

Sean Baker and Gavin Sole consolidated a superb morning with a 4/3 win.

In the singles, Greyling set the tone with a commanding 7/6 win. He produced some exquisite shots around the green.

Rush surrendered an early two hole lead but managed to hang on for a half.

Khawula also took his foot off his opponent’s throat. At one stage he was four up, but he gave it back and eventually halved his game, much to his disgust.

Smooth-swinging Bux was consistent as always with a 3/2 win. Left-hander Nelson, playing in a shirt that was perhaps a bit too big, nonetheless produced the goods, as expected, with a 4/3 win.

Le Roux, who almost didn’t play because of a neck niggle, dished out a dog licence (the second of the day after Greyling’s) to finish his game on the 12th, winning 7/6.

Some thought he had quit early due to the injury but it wasn’t the case. “It held up, thankfully,” he said.

Baker, the team’s secret weapon at number two, continued his good form in 2014 with a comfortable 4/3 win.

The team then waited at the back of the 18th for the ‘Big Fish’ Gavin Sole to finish off the day. He had a tough battle against wily veteran Sadeak Khader and lost one down when Khader drove the green and made a birdie.

“I’ll be back, don’t like playing badly, couldn’t put enough good holes together,” said Sole afterwards.

The team’s next game will be at Royal Durban on March 9. Jan McDermott and Leorin Pillay are expected to be available for that important game.

Meanwhile, the central league team defeated Central Durban 8-4 at Cotswold Downs.

It’s always an interesting venue, as players ride on carts to speed up play.

In the foursomes, Naude Barkhuizen and George Bothma lost, but Gary Purtell and Jarrod van Wyk won.

Simon Lee and Patrick Mavundla lost, but Ronald Mtshaka and Douglas Sima won to square things up going into the singles.

The team stepped up a gear in the afternoon, with Barkhuizen, Purtell and Van Wyk bringing in wins.

Bothma and Lee lost, just to make things more interesting than captain Purtell would have liked, but Mavundla, Sima and Mtshaka wrapped things up with victories.

This sets things up nicely going forward. “It was a good start to the team’s campaign and we hope to have a settled team with which to win the league this year,” said Purtell.

The next game is against Umhlali Country Club at Papwa Sewgolum on March 9.

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Sheppie takes the laurels at annual meet

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THE South Coast Ladies’ Meet took place at the club last Sunday, with 84 women playing.

It was followed by the annual general meeting.

The day was won by Port Shepstone’s Jane Lind, Barbra Rousseau, Yzelle Greyling and Debi Stewart on 92 points.

In second place were Margate’s Barbara Jackson, Sandy Johnson, Jane Davies and Lesley Erasmus on 91 points.

Port Shepstone B were second, namely J Demeyer, P Danker, Cecilia Verster and Annie Stoppel on 89 points, counting out Southbroom’s Eileen Neilson, Julie Gerber, Janet Barclay and Margaret Sherratt.

The women played for the Baker Trophy last Tuesday.

It was won by Corrinne Greensmith on 35 points, with Margaret Ford and Maureen Ogilvie next on 34 points. Ann Williams was fourth on 33 points.

Last Wednesday, the Wobblers were at it, with Jim Finn, who shot 73 off an 11, Keith Duncalf and Nico van Vuuren winning on 99 points.

In second were Cryil Greensmith, Rob Brien and John Gibson on 89 points, followed by John Barker, Alan Davies and Piet Pretorius on 88 points.

The Arthur Tomlinson Floater went to Derek Young, M Monroe and Dave Morrison on 59 points.

The regular Thursday comp was won by Keith Duncalf on 40 points, with Barry Oehme second on 39 points.

The monthly business day, sponsored by Giorgio Express and Margate Pro Shop, had the challenging format of three to count on the par fours, and two to count on the rest.

In first place were Theuns Esterhuizen, Christo Esterhuizen, Zandru Coetzee and Piet Lombard on 107 points.

Runners-up on a countout were Johan Erasmus, Marius Visser, Barry Oehme and Detliff Wichmann.

In third place were Richard Plaskitt, Norman Bridger, Piet Ludick and Rob McArthur, also on 107 points.

Fourth place went to Cyril Greensmith, Corinne Greensmith, John Barker and Friedl Kotzbauer on 106 points, with Hans Beilhartz, Dieter Berend, Otto Mutschler and Mario Gruber in fifth on 103 points.

Nearest the pins, sponsored by Blue Lagoon, were Kevin Wood (8th) and Christine Moessl (16th).

The monthly medal A division last Saturday, sponsored by Hibiscus Retirement Villages, was won by Ronnie Mtshaka on nett 72. Sbu Ntozakhe was second on nett 74.

The B division was won by Fanie Terblanche on nett 66, with Jim Finn three adrift on nett 69.

Piet Ludick cleaned up in the C division with nett 68, followed by Dieter Berend on nett 69.

The women’s medal was won by Hilary Hendry at nett 68, with Sandi Johnson and Corinne Greensmith next on 71. Agnes Spielmann had nett 74.

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Mom and son win

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THE Victory Cup provided something a little different at Port Shepstone Country Club last Saturday.

In the end it was won by the mother and son combination of Yzelle and Van Zyl Greyling on 45 points.

In second spot were Daan Swanepoel and Johann van Niekerk on 44 points, followed by Jesse and Cecelia Verster on 43 points.

The previous Wednesday’s comp was won by Gerald Koch and Dave Milne on 47 points, with

Mike Pillay and Ronnie Naidoo on 45 points.

Dress in red and white for this Friday’s business (Valentine’s Day) day.

There will be a special menu and prizes on the day.

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Joy for Janet

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THE Foley Filip individual medal was played for at Southbroom Golf Club last Thursday and won by Janet Humphrey on nett 70 after she returned a gross score of 79.

In second place was Lizzie Currie on nett 72 off a five handicap.

Heather Anderson was third on nett 73 off her 10 handicap.

The trophy is played for by members of Southbroom, Margate and Port Shepstone.

The previous Wednesday’s competition was won by Hannah Heirholt and Heather Anderson on nett 64.

In a tie for second place on nett 66 were Margaret Sherratt and Pam Quarmby as well as Geraldine Treherne and Lorna Johnson.

The men’s comp was won by Mike Roe and Jonathan Shaw on nett 58, on a countout from Geoff Skelton and Trevor Lauf. In third place on nett 61 were George Haswell and Don Osbourn.

Saturday’s alliance saw Hannah Hierhold, Geraldine Treherne, Augustine D’Ewes and Heather Anderson take top honours on 90, on a countout from Candida Amm, Pam Quarmby, Lorna Johnson and Margaret Sherratt.

There was a real bunfight in the men’s comp, with three fourballs returning 93 points.

The countout favoured Dave Cannon, Horst Lehrer, Richard Bridgeford and Roger Phillips. In a tie for second were Richard Derman, Russell Johnson, Hendry Kotze and Kerry Fielden, as well as Derrik Matthew, Bruce Matthew, Roel Germs and Art Germs.

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Bumper season ahead

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PRO-VISION will start the 2014 year with a monthly mug at Port Shepstone Country Club this Sunday, February 16, with tee off times from 8am.

The calendar for the year looks promising and much is planned for home and away tournaments.

Naveshan Moodley was in top form last Sunday in a social event and earned first place with an outstanding 44 points.

Preggie Perumal was next on 37 points, with Sharms Goberdan in third on 35 points.

To book, contact Rogers Perumal at 076 3595552.