Close, but no cigar for Malcolm Mitchell at KZN Open

THE KwaZulu-Natal Open Strokeplay tournament has come and gone, and still the wait for another home winner continues, with the honours this year going to teenager Martin Vorster from Pinnacle Point Golf Club in Mossel Bay.

But it wasn’t like it wasn’t close.

Malcolm Mitchell (Kloof CC), coming off the back of being overlooked for the South African squad to tour the United Kingdom, certainly had his chances, but just couldn’t quite close the deal at Selborne Park Golf Club.

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It’s not really a course that suits his big hitting game, so to some extent, it was a good result for him

He shot 67, 70, 71 and 71 to finish two behind Vorster, who had 66, 69, 74 and 68.

Amateur golf at a national level is increasingly becoming a ‘young’ sport, with Mitchell, at the age of 22, a veteran of note in some ways.

Byron Coetzee (Cotswold Downs) was next best of the KZN players in fourth place, with rounds of 71, 68, 74 and 71.

Still in the junior ranks, he is definitely one to watch for the future.

After that for KZN came Siyanda Mwandla (Mount Edgecombe CC) in sixth place on scores of 67, 73, 76 and 70.

Jason Broomhead (Durban CC) hasn’t been in career-best form of late, so it was heartening to see him almost squeeze into the top 10, with solid returns of 71, 73, 72 and 73.

Louis Albertse (Dundee GC) and Graham Dickinson (Maritzburg GC) were tied for 13th on +2 for the tournament.

Hayden Griffiths (Zimbali CC) was 17th on +4. He has been consistent in other national tournaments but hasn’t had the chance to play in KZN events, so this was good to see.

He is one player who could be a surprise selection for the KZN team later this year, depending on who is or isn’t available.

David Brown (Mount Edgecombe CC), who now only plays serious mid-amateur golf (and is creeping towards seniors), showed that class is permanent with a top 19 finish on +5.

There was a little rust evident on day two with a 78, but a Sunday morning 69 showed he still (more than) has it.

Other KZN players to make the cut: Greg McKay (Mount Edgecombe CC) +6, Jason Gilliver (Selborne Park) +7, Clayton Mansfield (Durban CC) +8, Marc van Deventer (Durban CC) +11, Matthew Hands (Simbithi) +13, Keith Forde (Durban CC) +18, Dave Watson (Kloof) +18, Graham Fabricius (Port Shepstone CC) +19, Robert Mavundla (Margate CC) +32, Mikhail van Brakel (Umdoni Park GC) +34.

Players who would have made the cut but withdrew after 36 holes for various reasons were Lisanthan Moodley (Durban CC) who had 74 and 78, Gavin Sole (Southbroom) on 74 and 84, as well as Sebastian Terblanche (Royal Durban) who had 77 and 81.

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* Derek Scullard (KwaMbonambi Golf Club) managed a yo-yo like fourth place at the South African Mid-Amateur Strokeplay champs played at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club course.

Eventual winner was Almero Theron of Heron Banks Golf Club who beat Ryan Dreyer of Killarney Country Club in a play-off. ‘Scully’ had rounds of 71, 80, 78 and 72 to finish 10 behind.

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