Scullard clinches mid-am golf title in Limpopo
In general, he found the course tricky, with sloping greens which he enjoyed putting on.
Derek Scullard (Mount Edgecombe Country Club) needed an extra hole to win the recent Limpopo Mid-Amateur at Euphoria Golf Estate.
While many expect Scullard, now 39, to win every time he tees it up, he knows that’s not always a foregone conclusion.
So this win, with scores of 69 and 73, was a testament to his staying power, fitness and skill.
He beat Henk Geldenhuys on the first extra hole after both had tied on -2, five shots ahead of the next player.
Scullard made par to Geldenhuys’s bogey.
“I played nicely most holes and was very happy with another win. Nice trophy, too. Almost lost it. Was a tough walk,” he said.
He needed a birdie on the last hole to make the play-off. He hit a wedge from 130m out to six foot and made the putt.
After a decent first round, Scullard started the second round in less-than-spectacular fashion, with a par, bogey and then a double bogey.
“Tried hitting a 3-wood out of the bunker. The ball went straight right into the bush.”
In general, he found the course tricky, with sloping greens which he enjoyed putting on.
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The rough was punishingly ragged, producing horror lies.
He was joined on the long journey to Limpopo by Corné van Deventer and Ryno Crous, both from Vryheid GC.
They did ‘ok’ with Van Deventer tied for 18th and Crous tied for 22nd.
Scullard has always been recognised as a player with immense talent, but is always looking for ways to get better.
His iron play has improved dramatically, as has his mental toughness.
“I’ve loosened my right hand… almost not even on the club. Starting to hit long irons close,” he said.
He said Euphoria was the longest and hottest walk he has endured, especially from green to next tee.
“I drank nearly a bottle of water on every hole. Fortunately it’s a flat course,” he said.
Scullard has now won four of the last five national mid amateur events he has played, cementing his spot at the top of the rankings.
He has his eye on a green blazer so will keep at it. “My goal this year was to become number one and make the SA side,” he said.
Next up is the Central Gauteng Mid-Amateur in mid January.
In other mid-amateur news, the selection process for selecting the KZN mid-amateur team has changed.
It will now follow the same guidelines as the selection criteria for the main men’s team and the country districts team.
There’ll be a minimum number of tournaments players will need to compete in, including the compulsory mid-am champs at Durban CC.
And there’ll be no ‘automatic’ selections. The rankings will take effect from the new year.
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