Learning experience for Matt at ‘Home of Golf’

MATT Saulez has returned from a trip with to Ireland, France and Scotland with a realisation of what he needs to do to take his game to the next level.

The Durban Country Club player, who is based at the Tuks High Performance Centre in Pretoria, was part of a South African squad taken on the tour.

He played in the Irish Amateur where he shot 76, 70 and 79 for T58th.

After that it was the Brabazon (English Amateur) qualifier where he shot 68 to take third place.

At the French Amateur he had rounds of 73, 70, 71 and 70 for T14th.

He was a little erratic at the Brabazon Trophy (English Amateur) with rounds of 72, 78, 76 and 69.

The highlight of his trip was the Scottish Amateur, where he finished T9th with scores of 71, 73, 69 and 71.

Thereafter he found it tough going with missed cuts at the Links Trophy (74 and 71) and British Amateur (77 and 74).

“It was an amazing trip, learnt so much and in terms of gaining experience, couldn’t have asked for better,” he said afterwards.

Although he didn’t play his best golf the whole trip he enjoyed it and will take a lot from it.

I feel the mental aspect of my game has grown. We realised that you have to grind and this is what made it so different to being at home in South Africa where you attack flags the whole day, – Matt Saulez

He played really well in the Scottish Amateur, where he just needed a few more putts to drop and he could have been in serious contention.

He said playing at St Andrews Links and the Old Course was something special.

Looking ahead, Matt will play a Big Easy Tour event at Houghton in early July and then he’s off on the next leg of his golfing education, a four tournament burst in the US.

* Most of the fixtures for the various premier, central and Allerton leagues have been completed.

The finals and relegation playoffs will be played at Bluff National Park on September 10 for premier and central teams.

Allerton league finals and playoffs will be at Maritzburg Golf Club on the same day.

Success on the day will come down to team selection, as in who is actually available to play on the day.

The 2015 champions, Mount Edgecombe Country Club, will play Cotswold Downs in the premier league final.

Kloof Country Club and Southern KwaZulu-Natal, both past league champions, face off in the playoff.

In the A division, Toti will have to beat Midlands to regain their spot in the premier league.

Midlands will be eager to get into the top flight, so expect this to be a mighty battle.

Umhlali Country Club and Mount Edgecombe Country Club have a north coast derby of sorts to avoid relegation blushes.

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In the B division, Kloof play Royal Durban in the final, while Durban Country Club’s C and B teams have some inhouse bragging rights to care of, or embarrasments to avoid.

The C division looks to have been won by Ethekweni; there is no playoff.

In Allerton B league matters, it appears Victoria Country Club will play Ethekweni, with playoff contenders still to be finalised.

In the Allerton A league, Toti are in the final with the opponent still to be confirmed.

Umkomaas face relegation, with the opponent awaited on.

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