High five for Big Fish
Despite not playing his best ever, he was still able to secure victory.
GAVIN Sole of Southbroom now has something in common with tennis superstar Novak Djokovic.No it’s not fitness levels, slender build or extraordinary agility.
Rather, it’s that they have both won an event five times. In the case of Djokovic, we all know it’s the Australian Open tennis grand slam.
The Big Fish, meanwhile, reeled in the East Griqualand Open once again.
Not exactly a major, but a popular tournament nonetheless.
But on the fifth occasion, both players had to fight and scrap in ‘ugly’ fashion before hitting the front and gliding to victory.
He edged in ahead of Kokstad local Sean Baker and Corne van Deventer from Vryheid.
“I thought Sean had it. I hit 11 fairways all day; it was going all over the place. Fortunately the rough had been cut otherwise my scores could have been closer to 100,” he said.
Sole made six drops and a double bogey but managed 11 birdies during the day.
The turning point came at the par five 14th hole where Sole took the lead for the first time in the day.
“He turned it on from there,” lamented runner-up Baker.
Sole made a birdie at the 17th to increase his lead and eventually win by three. He shot 72 and 69, playing the last nine holes in 33.
“I was chuffed to have won playing the way I did,” he said.
His secret weapon may have been his 11-year-old son Graham, who caddied (and provided commentary) during the day.
Conditions were not easy. It was surprisingly cold and wet. “Better than a thunderstorm though,” quipped Baker.
Baker admitted the greens were not the best ever.
“The dry period in January set them back, so the rain was really needed. Holes 15 and 4 will probably have to be replanted. The rest were very spongy but playable,” he said.
“We are using the 9th green as a temporary green for 18, which changes the drive on 18 a little but works quite well,” he said.
Leading scores: Gavin Sole 72 69, Sean Baker 70 74, Corne van Deventer 72 73, Marc Bormann 74 76, Walter Malevu 77 74, Samuel Gouma 74 79, Kwanele Mkhoma 80 73.
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RESULTS IN BRIEF
Margate CC
January 27: 1 Friedl Kotzbauer, Agnes Spielmann, Chiapinni Boshoff and Lynn Meek 91 pts; 2 Jane Davies, Shannon Gottlieb, Kay Young and Janet Dowling 90 pts.
The women had a small celebration in the pub after golf, courtesy of Lynn Meek who had a hole-in-one on the 16th.
January 28: Wobblers rained off.
January 29: 1 John Webster and Rod Bouwer 78 pts; 2 Simon Lee and Derek Egerton 77 pts; 3 Mike Lee and Keith Duncalf 72 pts.
Nearest the pins – Rod Bouwer (4th) and Theuns Esterhuizen (16th).
January 31: 1 Anne Williams and Margaret Taylor 61 pts; 2 Chiapinni Boshoff and Sandi Johnston (pivot) 60 pts; 3 Evelyn Burls and Kay Young 55 pts.
Jackpot – Chiapinni Boshoff and Sandi Johnston 21 pts.
Men – 1 Deon Meyer 45 pts; 2 Patrick Mavundla 42 pts; 3 Donald Hobson 41 pts; 3 Eddie Davies 40 pts.
Nearest the pins – Guy Yeadon (4th) and Neil Townsend (16th).
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Southbroom
January 28: Women – 1 Lorna Johnson 66 nett; 2 Margi Bonini 72 nett; 3 Janet Humphrey 77 nett, oco Candida Amm.
Men (Stableford) – 1 Colin Mckay 37 pts; 2 Barclay Shearer 36 pts; 3 Roy Deakins 35 pts, oco Lance Marshall.
Medal – 1 Gary Purtell 64 nett; 2 Gavin Sole 68 nett; 3 Malcolm Greenland 71 nett, oco Jason Ackerman.
January 31: Women – 1 Barbara Cannon and Heather Anderson 48 pts; 2 Jeanette Peyios and Sandy Luus 47 pts; 3 Janet Humphrey and Margi Bonini 46 pts; 4 Karen Asbock and Mary Carolan 44 pts.
Men – 1 Malcolm Greenland and Osie Osborne 50 pts; 2 Colin Mckay and Mike Anthony 47 pts, Norman Whittemore and Wilfred Bessell 47 pts; 4 John Mullane and Bill Sherratt 46 pts, John Lison and Stuart Janvier 46 pts.
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Port Shepstone CC
January 28: 1 Ewald Ziervogel and Dave Mee +7; 2 Leon Reeders and Dave Mee (pivot) +6.
January 31 (Kingfisher Bowling Association Golf Day): 1 Charles Mostert and Richard Harrison 76 pts; 2 John Beekman and Craig Lindsay 75 pts; 3 Kim Strauss and Christo Janse van Vuuren 74 pts.
February 7: Auto Exec Monthly Mug/Cellar Cup.
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Pro-Vision AGM soon
THE annual general meeting for the Pro-Vision golf club will take place at Port Shepstone Country Club on Sunday, February 8 at 2.30pm.
This will be preceded by the club’s monthly game at the club, with tee off times available from 8am. New members are welcome to enter this tournament.
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League under way
THE Southern KZN premier league team to play Toti at Toti this Sunday is Sean Baker, Marc Borman, Altaaf Bux, Elvis Khawula, Jan McDermott, Chris Poole, David Rush and Jarrod van Wyk.
The central team to play Maritzburg Golf Club at Kloof is Graham Fabricius, Simon Lee, Patrick Mavundla, Robert Mavundla, Ronnie Mtshaka, Gary Purtell, Sipho Shusha and Douglas Sima.
