Juniors soak up the heat on South Coast tour
Three junior golf tournaments were played on the coast recently.
THERE were three different champions during the Junior Foundation’s South Coast Golf Tour last weekend.
Nathan Trodd (Maritzburg Golf Club) won the first tournament, played at Southbroom Golf Club, shooting level par 72 on a day where scores were decent, but those that were bad were really bad.
ALSO READ : Family flair at Southbroom Golf Club
He edged out Jean-Henri Els, who is a member at Wingate Park Country Club but a regular visitor to Southbroom, who had 73.
SG Delport (Maritzburg GC) was third on 74, with Matt Walters (Umhlali) in fourth place on 75.
Jack Cubitt (Umdoni Park) was one of par playing the 18th but walked off with a 9, hitting two out of bounds over the back of the green.
With the cart path the only thing between the green and the road, it can happen quickly.
Graham Sole won the B division on his home course on 83, despite three double bogeys.
Runner-up was Damien O’Connell (Umkomaas) on 92.
The next day it was off to the (in theory) more forgiving Margate Country Club course.
Cubitt was able to redeem himself, despite (or in spite of) playing without a driver, which snapped the previous day.
He scored two under par 69 to win by two from Mitch Hampson, who like Cubitt, is also a member at Umdoni Park, and also attends Westville Boys’ High.
Jack’s identical twin brother Luke was third on 73.
There was a three-way tie for fourth place on 74, shared by Southbroom’s winner Matt Walters, as well as Matthew Kruger (Durban CC) and Stuart McGregor (Selborne Park), who improved by 18 shots over the previous day.
Boela Delport (Maritzburg GC) was next best on 76.
The B division was won by Junior Gumede (Kloof CC) on 88, by three from Graham Sole.
The last event of the South Coast circuit was held at Port Shepstone Country Club on a very hot and muggy day.
Matt Walters had the round of the day, a one over par 73, which was good enough for a win and also good enough to see him win the Southern Natal Nomads trophy for the best aggregate score over the three days.
Runner-up at Port Shepstone was Andrew Inggs (Durban CC) on 75, with SG Delport third on 78 and Boela Delport next on 79.
Walters had been three behind Jack Cubitt going in to the last day, but Cubitt had a family function to attend to and so didn’t play.
His closest competitor for the Nomads trophy was Hampson, but he started by threatening to fell the tree next to the first tee, such was the power but unfortunately inaccuracy of his opening blow, and never really got going.
Port Shepstone has proven to be something of a nemesis for Hampson, who despite his obvious skill has never broken 80 there.
He’ll probably break 70 before he overcomes the ‘snow man’!
B division honours went to Graham Sole (Southbroom) on 85. Next best was a player about half his size, Benjamin Wilson, on 91.
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