There were no real surprises as Gavin Sole (Southbroom Golf Club) won the Southern KwaZulu-Natal Closed at Southbroom GC last Sunday, scoring 72 and 69.
He defended the title he won at San Lameer CC last year, and which he has won on numerous occasions before.
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In doing so, he followed up on his win at the Southern KZN Open at San Lameer CC last year.
The Closed is a small tournament, but there was a quality field, including Jason Gilliver of Umdoni Park, who will be heading off to Q School in Johannesburg at the end of February/early March.
Gilliver had a hot start, with 68 in the morning, compared to Sole’s 72, which included a lost ball in the Norfolk Pine on the 17th hole.
In similar fashion to two years ago, Gilliver coughed up the lead, shooting an afternoon 78, while Sole had 69.
It really was a hot day, typical of this time of year, with one player producing beads of sweat on his forehead, while still on the way to the course and still sitting in an air-conditioned car.
Third place went to Robert Mavundla (Margate Country Club) on 75 and 72.
Tie for fourth were Elvis Khawula (Margate CC) and George Bothma (Southbroom GC) on 150.
Next were Jack Cubitt (Umdoni Park), Koos Jacobs (Margate CC) and Mitch Hampson (Umdoni Park) on 151.
Jean-Marc Bouic (Port Shepstone CC) finished ninth on 78 and 74, while Phiwa Mkhoma (Port Shepstone CC) rounded out the top 10 with 76 and 77.
Past winner Graham Fabricius (Port Shepstone CC) had a decent day spoilt by an 11 on the 3rd hole in the afternoon and had to settle for 74 and 81.
The 3rd hole has to be one of the most feared and respected anywhere in the country, especially in strokeplay.
Many, many players have come unstuck there over the years.
It was good to see Mkhoma back in the area after spending a number of years in Durban.
He did produce one of the ‘brain farts’ of the day, striking his second shot on the par five 17th onto the front of the green while the group ahead was still putting.
“I had 200m to go, into a slight wind, and tried to lay up just short with a 4-iron. I was shocked when it landed on the green,” he said, apologising immediately, and then again when he reached the green.
Andrew Sharp won the B division, putting together a startling 38 and then a more expected erratic 29.
Best overall nett went to George Bothma on 144, one ahead of evergreen Gary Purtell (Southbroom GC).
RESULTS
141 Gavin Sole 72 69
146 Jason Gilliver 68 78
147 Robert Mavundla 75 72
150 Elvis Khawula 74 76
150 George Bothma 76 74
151 Jack Cubitt 77 74
151 Koos Jacobs 75 76
151 Mitch Hampson 78 73
152 Jean-Marc Bouic 78 74
153 Phiwa Mkhoma 76 77
155 Gary Purtell 79 76
155 Graham Fabricius 74 81
156 Luke Cubitt 80 76
157 Adrian van Vuuren 76 81
165 Wonderboy Nxumalo 84 81
166 Graham Sole 78 88
169 Mlamuli Msezane 85 84
169 Sydney Shingange 85 84
170 Gareth Hampson 80 90
171 David Small 85 86
173 Cyprian Xolo 77 96
176 Brendon Allison 83 93
183 Vusi Maphumulo 89 94.
B division: Andrew Sharp 67 points, Gary Leader 47 points.
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