One that got away for Jason

Jason Gilliver of Umdoni Park Golf Club is a clinical finisher of golf tournaments, as his track record of victories suggests. Well, usually.

Like any fisherman knows – and he’s a keen one – there are some that get away, either through a slice of bad luck or some less than great decision making. Or great play from someone else.

He had the San Lameer Open, which was combined with the Southern KZN Closed, within his grasp on a stiflingly hot Saturday, but made a hash of the last two holes.

You could say he handed it to Sean Baker (Oubaai and Margate) the eventual winner, but Baker produced arguably the greatest strokeplay round of his long career to sweep past and take the trophy.

Gilliver had a morning round of 76, which saw him three behind Gavin Sole (Southbroom).

In the afternoon round he was a stunning six under par with only the par five 17th to play and then the notorious 18th, which was playing quite easy, off a front tee.

Unfortunately, his approach to the 17th finished right of the green in a muddy lie. He chunked the pitch into the water and then skidded the next one over the green. It led to a quick triple bogey.

He compounded the error with another ball in the water on the 18th which led to a double bogey and a round of 71 for an overall score of 147.

Baker, meanwhile, started with 75 and then produced a five under par 67 to eventually win by four shots from Sole and by five from Gilliver.

Gilliver finished third, one behind Sole, who had a second round 73 to match his morning effort.

The Big Fish’s day went a bit awry after a three-putt on the 14th in the morning, when he tapped in from a few centimetres and the ball bounced off the flag. Blame Covid.

Baker’s golf has improved since he moved to George and joined Oubaai, most notably his putting.

Looking to this weekend, Gilliver will form part of the Southern KZN league team to play Kloof Country Club ‘A’ at San Lameer this Sunday.

The team is as follows: Jason Gilliver (Umdoni Park), Gavin Sole (Southbroom), Jack Cubitt (Umdoni Park), Mitch Hampson (Umdoni Park), David Rush (Southbroom), Jean-Marc Bouic (Selborne Park), Graham Fabricius (Umdoni Park) and Kai Hielckert (Port Shepstone).

RESULTS
142 Sean Baker 75 67
146 Gavin Sole 73 73
147 Jason Gilliver 76 71
149 Gitesh Maharaj 78 71
152 Kai Hielckert 80 72
152 Glynn Forman 76 76
152 Darren Gerrard 78 74
152 Jack Cubitt 75 77
154 Vivek Singh 80 74
155 Douglas Sima 80 75
156 James Coull 83 73
156 Robert Mavundla 80 76
157 Adrian van Vuuren 80 77
157 Jan McDermott 80 76
157 David Rush 79 78
158 Russel Heine 79 79
159 Cyprian Xolo 81 78
159 Mitch Hampson 77 82
160 Luke Culbitt 79 81
160 Sebastian Terblanche 79 81
161 Jean Marc Bouic 81 80
161 Graham Fabricius 88 73
162 Themba Kaunda 83 79
162 Graeme Forbes 85 77
163 Wonderboy Nxumalo 83 80
164 Gary Purtell 81 83
164 Elvis Khawula 86 78
165 Sydney Shingange 87 78
165 Ronnie Mtshaka 84 81
167 Graham Sole 81 86
168 Gareth Hampson 81 87
169 Gideon Jansen van Rensburg 85 84
170 Paul Geoffery 87 83
171 Pete Leeming 80 91
172 Stuart Mcgregor 96 76
174 Paul Swanepoel 87 87
190 De Wet Durand 87 103
DNF Mikhail van Brakel

B division(Stableford)
73 Elisabeth Bachmann
71 Stanley Scrooby
69 Andreas Bossard
69 Greg Hornby
69 Debbie Dellieu
69 Anton Hauptfleisch
68 Mark Schapers
68 Nicolas Schapers
65 Simon Shusha
62 Sbu Ntozakhe
58 Vusi Maphumolo
56 Loyisa Gogwana
48 Graham Heine
39 Emile Dellieu

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