Sole breaks his Durban CC duck at Suddards trophy
The 'Big Fish' has found some tournament-winning form at last.
GAVIN Sole of Southbroom Golf Club showed his class with a win at the David Suddards Trophy at Durban Country Club last Sunday.
He shot 71 and 73 to show that he is far from a spent force in terms of men’s golf in the province.
“What’s this ‘wrong side of 40’?” he muttered after reading last week’s article.
“That motivated me. I stuck to my game plan and resisted the urge to hit the driver too often,” said Sole, who turns 48 this coming Friday.
That’s saying something as the driver is arguably his best club in the bag.
ALSO READ: Places on the line for KZN golf team
But Durban CC in the winter is the kind of course where being too aggressive doesn’t always help.
As expected, conditions were fairly tough and the greens fast.
“They were fast, but not so fast that I was hitting any putts on the run,” he laughed, in reference to Phil Mickelson’s antics at Shinnecock Hills during the US Open.
A recent weekend away in the Berg may have helped the “Big Fish” adjust from the slower greens at his home club.
“We played a round at Drak Gardens’ Glengarry course and the greens were very firm and extremely quick, so in a way this was good preparation for Durban CC,” he said.
Sole won by a shot from Nikhil Gopal (17) of Victoria Country Club who had rounds of 69 and 76.
Surprisingly perhaps, it was the first time he’s won at this hallowed layout.
“I’ve always had a big number somewhere along the line in the past,” he said.
He was pleased to have broken his duck at DCC, and win a tournament in honour of David Suddards, one of the country’s finest amateur golfers in his day.
Leading scores:
144 Gavin Sole 71 73
145 Nikhil Gopal 69 76
148 Kyle Kistensamy 72 76
150 Gregg Gilson 73 77
150 Siyanda Mwandla 72 78
150 Clive Lazarus 72 78
153 Luke Mayo 77 76
153 Grant Olivier 74 79
154 Gregory McKay 74 80
154 Dylan Underwood 74 80
155 Jason Broomhead 76 79
155 Leon Naidoo 76 79
155 Murray Gilson 76 79
155 Graham Dickinson 72 83
158 Jonothan Broomhead 80 78
IPT TEAM BAROMETER:
You’d think with a win at one of the most difficult courses in the province that Sole will have justified his reselection for the men’s team this year.
Admittedly, he won without Matt Saulez, Malcolm Mitchell, Clayton Mansfield and Derek Scullard in the field.
They’re definite selections if all available, along with Greg McKay and most likely Luke Mayo. Siyanda Mwandla showed promising form in the morning with 72, but then like many, faded in the afternoon with an 80.
Jason Broomhead never really got going and will need a big result soon.
Jason Gilliver was fine in the morning round with 76 but then picked up a few big numbers en route to an afternoon 83.
Gopal simply has to come into the picture as well now. Although young, he clearly has class, and is fast gaining experience by playing tournaments around the country.
He’ll also travel this Thursday to Pinehurst in North Carolina, USA for the North and South World Junior Championships.
He’s looking forward to it, feeling that his game is pretty solid at the moment.
Grade 11 exams have got in the way of his practising so he’s looking forward to being able to get in some long hours of practice as well, something he was unable to do ahead of the Suddards.
LEAGUE
In premier league Mount Edgecombe CC are at home to Kloof CC. Mount Edgecombe should win this easily. Score prediction 10-2.
Durban CC host Toti and shouldn’t have too much trouble earning a victory. Score prediction same as above, 10-2.
Royal Durban host Cotswold Downs in what could be an intriguing game given that it’s at Royal. However, Cotswold should be too strong. Score prediction 7,5-4,5.
In the A division, Southern KZN play Bluff National at Southbroom.
Mount Edgecombe ‘A’ are at home to Midlands. Prince’s Grant welcome Durban CC ‘A’.
Maidstone play Royal Durban ‘A’ on the North Coast. Prediction is for all the home clubs to win.
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