Red-hot golfer Colin Nel inspired by Liverpool
It was the third time he has produced a sub 60 score.
Sunshine Tour pro Colin Nel produced a 59 around Port Shepstone Country Club last weekend to light things up during the (easing) lockdown.
As an ardent Liverpool fan, he reckons he was inspired by the Reds’ premier league success.
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It’s not the first time he’s dipped below the magical 60 mark – he had a 59 on the Sunshine Tour during the Nelson Mandela Challenge at Mount Edgecombe CC a few years ago.
In that tournament he needed to make the cut to keep his playing card and had shot 77 in the first round.
“I said to my playing partner Michael Hollick on the tee, we need the course record today.”
His score was 11 under par as the course was playing as a par 70 due to heavy rain the previous few days which saw some holes shortened.
He made the cut and kept his card.
Two months later, he shot 58 at Maritzburg Golf Club in a Wednesday School competition.
“I missed a putt on the 9th and a mate said, you know that was for a 29?”
“I said to him no worries I’ll make it up on the back nine and went out and shot 28!”
At Port Shepstone, he set a new personal record, reeling off eight birdies in a row, from the second hole to the ninth hole, with 22 putts on the day.
Paul Geoffery was in his fourball and is still struggling to absorb what he saw.
“He could have shot a 56, no lies. He missed easy putts for eagle on the 9th and 13th. There was some ridiculous golf, phenomenal to watch. He made the long putts and missed short ones,” he said.
What was almost unbelievable was that Colin failed to birdie the 11th, arguably the easiest par five on the course.
He hit his second into the dry stuff on the right in front of the 16th tee, chopped it out, chipped it to 20ft and holed the putt for par!
With two holes to go he was 11 under par.
Urged on by Geoffery, as well as Basil King and Anba Pillay, he birdied the 17th, holing a long putt.
“They all laughed and said come on, one more,” said Colin.
On the tricky 18th, he struck his approach to 7 foot above the hole and made the putt.
“I have to admit it was pretty satisfying,” he said.
Colin played most of his amateur golf for Maritzburg Golf Club and won the KZN Amateur at Kloof in 2003.
His short game was so good he was nicknamed ‘Nellasteros’ after the late, great Seve.
He has now settled on the coast, having set up a fencing company. He’s married to Nicole New and they have twin boys, Colt and Daniel, now aged two-and-a-half.
“They’re both full of mischief, must take after their father,” he laughed.
Colin is still playing the Sunshine Tour and is hoping he’ll be able to take this form forward when the big tournaments start again.
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