Northern travels beckon … but Graham needs a map book

IT’S almost time for the playing of the 88th Northern KwaZulu-Natal Open at Dundee Country Club this Sunday, January 22.

Although it’s a long haul for the city boys, there is excitement building ahead of the opening tournament of the year.

Points are on offer towards team selections, not just for country districts but also for mid-amateurs.

One player, Graham Fabricius of Port Shepstone, is eager to see what he can do.

Only thing is he will now leave on Saturday, and not Sunday morning as planned.

“Wow, I thought Dundee was near Durban,” he laughed.

(No Graham, towns are not named alphabetically according to location, although that’s not the worst idea!)

But on to more serious matters.

Corné van Deventer of Vryheid is a name that has become synonymous with Northern KZN golf.

He’s a two-time past champion and was looking forward to the tournament.

“The guys at Dundee have put in a lot of effort, hopefully it gets good support,” he said.

The sponsor, Brian du Toit of Farmers Agri-Care, said entries were streaming in,

“Last year we had a full field of 90 players, so we are hoping for much the same this year,” he said.

Brian is also a past champion, but way back when he was a teenager, about 40 years ago!

“The course will be good, we’ve had 100mm in the past two weeks,” he said.

He felt that the Northern KZN Open was often a place where young players with big talent chalked up early wins in their careers.

“Tim Clark won this tournament before he became a big name around the world,” he added.

It was hoped that home town favourite Louis Alberts, who won in 2014, would be playing although he will be away preparing for national tournaments like the upcoming Gauteng North Open.

Defending champion Wikus Solms will unfortunately also be away.

“I would have loved to have played but am going to attend my cousin’s wedding. Hope to play in other tournaments during the year,” he said.

In terms of golf in the region in general, van Deventer said things were going quite well.

The sub-union gained promotion back into the premier league, but may lose its top two players – Albertse and Combrinck Smit – who are both off to Q school.

“They’ll miss the first two games which is a pity, but otherwise we have the usual stalwarts, but I am looking for someone to bat at number one,” he said, hinting that he may drop himself a few slots down the order.

The first league games are on February 12.

Kloof host Mount Edgecombe and Northern KZN hosts Maritzburg Golf Club.

In the other pool, there’s a massive derby on the go when Royal Durban travel down the road to Durban Country Club.

Umhlali head to Cotswold Downs.

Durban Country Club 2 and Southern KZN have byes.

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