Club champs thrills and spills for 2018 premier league clubs
Strokeplay titles have been decided for the year and here's how they look for the eight clubs involved in the premier league.
CLUB champs brings with it a special kind of pressure. Easy shots suddenly seem impossible and good golfers can chalk up some extraordinary scores, hitting it to places they last visited as juniors learning the game.
Mount Edgecombe CC:
A birdie in the dark secured a dramatic victory for Derek Scullard after he and Dale Burraston finished on -8 over the two days played on the two different courses.
Scullard needed just one extra hole to see off Burraston, clinching the win with a birdie as the sun was setting rather rapidly.
Scullard started the day four behind Burraston, but was out in five under to take a one shot lead into the last nine.
However, Burraston overtook him, but then bogeyed the last to let him back in.
Scullard was happy with the win. “Game is good, feeling something of a resurgence,” he said.
Durban CC:
The strokeplay was played in March and won by Jono Broomhead on scores of 68 and 77. He birdied the 18th – driving it on the green and two-putting – to deny Murray Gilson and Chris Woollam by one shot after neither could up-and-down. It was quite a way to defend a title!
The matchplay final, next Saturday, will see old foes and good mates Sean Fenger (defending champion) and Clive Lazarus (surprise finalist, rolling back the years) going at it. No doubt the chirps will fly.
Cotswold Downs:
Brendan Adlam gave the rest of the field, which included some seriously good golfers, a lesson in how to negotiate this tricky layout.
He returned 141 to beat Lyall McNeill, Byron Coetzee and Dennis Mack by six shots and chalk up his fifth strokeplay title.
There can’t be too many golfers anywhere in the world who have suffered the ignominy of a ‘dog licence’ in premier league and then gone on to win a championship, but Adlam has done it and may in a small part have Barry McGhee to thank for this one.
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Royal Durban:
Sebastian Terblanche (18) follows a history of young champions, carding 147 to win for the second time. He pipped past champion Bradley Davison by one shot.
The youngster started day two four off the pace and charged home in style.
Kloof:
Dylan Underwood, fresh out of school, won for the first time, scoring 72 and 71 despite two closing bogeys.
He held it together best on a course which was very wet. This didn’t stop the 140 golfers who entered enjoying themselves though.
Amanzimtoti:
Jan McDermott beat Mike Dunlop on the second hole of sudden death. Both were tied on 144 (level). McDermott birdied the last hole in pouring rain to get into the playoff.
He then went on to birdie the second playoff hole to clinch it. Earlier, Dunlop three-putted the last to give McDermott a sniff – and he grabbed it with both hands.
Umhlali:
Kevin Ullyett won his third strokeplay title, scoring 73 and 74 to win by eight from Thabo Magwasa. “Kept it in play for most of the weekend with only a few mistakes. Up-and-downed like crazy!” he said.
Maritzburg Golf Club:
James Barnard proved a surprise winner, nipping past multiple past champion Morgan Phillips at the post. It was a first win for Barnard, who scored 74 and 72 to edge out Phillips who had 72 and 75. Graham Dickinson was third on 76 and 76. “It was a struggle,” he said, summing up how most feel after two days of club champs!
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