Southbroom triumphs again
The three golf courses were in fantastic condition after the recent rains.
SOUTHBROOM clinched this year’s KZN Interclub at Margate Country Club, beating Kloof in the semi-finals and then defending champs Mount Edgecombe in the final.The first day of qualifying was at Margate, where Southbroom placed third. They were slightly better the next day on their home course, and qualified in second place.
This meant a showdown with league champions Kloof. Gavin Sole led the way, trouncing Kevin Rundle 7/6.
Jason Ackerman beat Paul Blackman 5/4 while Phil le Roux went down to Gareth Atkinson.
In the other semi, Mount Edgecombe eased past a young Richards Bay side, which arrived expecting to play in the B division, but because of their low handicaps, got pushed up.
In the final, Ackerman triumphed 2/1 over veteran Simon Taylor, who had shot 66 in one of the qualifying rounds, despite being one-down at the turn.
“It feels awesome to win something again and to feel like I can compete with good players,” said Ackerman.
Le Roux halved against David Brown. “It’s nice to win without winning,” he chirped. “In other words, well done to Gavin and Jason.”
Sole, fighting a chest infection and sporting a voice for late night radio, made sure of things with a 4/2 win over Dale Burraston.
He was particularly pleased with the result, which now means Southbroom have won three times in the last five years, in 2010 at San Lameer, and at Margate in 2012.
Durban CC won the alliance.
The B division saw home team Margate take on Howick, champions two years ago at the same venue, but the locals came unstuck against the boys in yellow.
Bruce Johnston lost to Ronnie Mtshaka 4/3, but Sean Hills beat Elvis Khawula 2-up and Steve Denning beat Douglas Sima 1-up.
It was a tense battle and only decided on the very last putt. “We lost by a whisker,” said Mtshaka.
“It was a great feeling to come out on top, with Steve holing a clutch six-footer on the last, and to do it against Margate on their home course was the icing on the cake,” said Hills.
“The courses we played on were in great condition and the matches on Sunday very tight.”
Losing semi-finalists were Mount Edgecombe (Greg Baverstock, Nesh Singh and Graeme Inggs) and Durban CC (Ashneel Ramkisson, Adrian Hansen and Laghlan Gourlay).
Ethekweni won the alliance.
The Frog division was won by Durban Country Club who outplayed Umhlali Country Club.
Dave Plenderleith beat Wimpie Vermaak 3/1, Garth Davis beat Hugo Adendorff 8/7 and Mark Cousins beat Greg Park 2-up.
The losing semi-finalists were Matatiele (Kelly Tarr, Grant Langley and Hannes Bezuidenhout) and Ethekweni (Vusi Mkhwanazi, Victor Phungula and Nhlanhla Nhleko).
Noodsberg won the alliance.
The Senior Frog title went the way of Port Shepstone, the co-hosts defeating fellow co-hosts Southbroom in the final.
Charles Mostert lost 2-down to Bruce Matthew, while Leon Reeders beat Don Osbourn 2/1 and Dave Mee saw off Dries Barkhuizen 4/2.
Losing semi-finalists were Durban CC (Ray Hurripersadh, Michael Moonsamy and Leon Moonsamy) and Prince’s Grant (Dave Miller, Bruce Reid and Chris van der Merwe).
The alliance went to Maritzburg Golf Club.
