Case ‘Closed’ for golfer Byron
Almost out of nowhere, seemingly, he has become the number one player in the province.
BYRON Coetzee added another title to his growing resumé by clinching the 72 hole Kwazulu-Natal Closed at Kloof Country Club last weekend.
That’s where he is handicapped now and the weekend prior he helped them win the premier league.
However, he is also a member at Cotswold Downs, and has been for years, so both clubs deserve credit when it comes to his pleasing progress.
ALSO READ : Byron Coetzee announces arrival on (bigger) golf stage
Almost out of nowhere, seemingly, he has become the number one player in the province.
He held his nerve in the final round where he and Derek Scullard (Mount Edgecombe CC) battled it out.
‘Scully’ appeared to have the edge after a birdie on the 6th and an eagle at the 7th, but an unfortunate triple on the 8th from him saw Coetzee sneak into the lead.
He made it a two shot lead with a birdie on the 9th and then maintained the lead over the closing nine holes.
“I just kept telling myself to stay patient during the day. It was dog fight, right up till the end,” he said.
His improvement has been so sharp, and some of his scores so low, that he has decided to turn pro and make the most of what that offers sooner rather than later.
It’s not the best news ever in terms of the South African IPT later in the year as he won’t be available for that.
However, it does give some new players a chance to show their worth.
The team, which has lost Clayton Mansfield, Malcolm Mitchell and Luke Mayo to the paid ranks, was announced after the tournament and there were no real surprises.
Gavin Sole (Southbroom GC) will captain once again, and he’s into his 17th or 18th IPT, at least.
He’s joined by fellow veteran Derek Scullard, Greg McKay and Siyanda Mwandla, all of Mount Edgecombe CC.
Mwandla makes a return after missing out last year.
Also back from last year is Jason Broomhead (Durban CC).
That left room for three rookies, in the form of Jono Broomhead (Jason’s younger brother), Nikhil Gopal (Victoria CC) and Jason Gilliver (Umdoni Park).
It’s an interesting mix of experience and youth, and it will be fascinating to see how the foursomes combinations and batting order pans out.
One option could be as follows: McKay, Scullard, the Broomheads, Mwandla and Gopal, Sole and Gilliver.
Or you could split the brothers and have Jason play with Mwandla and Jono with Gopal.
The older Broomhead and Mwandla have been steady for KZN for a few years now while the younger Broomhead and Gopal have played plenty junior golf together.
McKay’s calm could be a perfect foil for Scullard’s creative, outspoken and occasionally unpredictable genius.
Sole and Gilliver have combined well for Southern KZN with the former’s vast experience possibly important for guiding Gilliver’s long range missiles off the tee and keeping him relaxed.
KZN last won this event in 2009 at Durban CC and even with some seriously good players since then, have not been able to get it done.
In some ways, KZN golf is at the start of a new cycle. It seems to come around every decade.
Sole has been the constant throughout and he’ll need to inspire his troops to bring their very best.
This year might be best served developing a team towards winning the title at home next year.
TOP 10
276 Byron Coetzee 74 65 68 69
279 Derek Scullard 69 68 70 72
280 Jono Broomhead 71 70 71 68
284 Kyle Kistensamy 74 71 69 70
285 Jason Gilliver 75 70 70 70
288 Graham Dickinson 72 68 75 73
289 Mitch Hampson 72 69 79 69
289 Siyanda Mwandla 70 73 68 78
290 Lisanthan Moodley 74 70 73 73
291 Ryan Welsh 76 75 67 73
291 Thomas Lovett 71 72 73 75
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