Not even a quadruple bogey nine on the 17th hole in the morning round could spoil a fantastic day for teenage golfer Cameron Olivant at the San Lameer Open last Sunday.
The Port Shepstone CC golfer won the title on two under par 142, with two rounds of 71.
He didn’t start in great fashion with two bogeys in the first three holes, but a chip in for birdie on the 5th got things going in the right direction.
Another birdie came at the 8th, and he was out in 36.
Cameron then made four birdies in a row from the 10th to the 13th, spoiling the run with a bogey on the 14th but bounced back with a birdie on the 15th.
He parred the tricky par three 16th before the ‘fun’ started.
He pulled his tee shot into trouble on the 17th, dropped out, overhit the fairway, duffed his approach into the water and before you could say ‘pie and Coke’ had chalked up a nine!
“That’s my highest score on a hole in a tournament,” he lamented. “I felt like having a little cry,” he laughed afterwards.
Instead, he made up his mind to ‘birdie the next hole’, none other than the terrifying 18th, playing into the wind.
In a testament to his mental fortitude, he drilled a driver down the middle, wedged on and made the putt to shoot 71, which greatly improved his mood.
Cameron’s afternoon round was less adventurous, including our bogeys – one a horseshoe lip out from three feet on the 7th – and five birdies.
He did make it interesting on the last hole, finding water off the tee and needing a calm chip and putt for bogey to edge in one ahead of Kalvin van Rensburg (Toti), who was playing in the same game.
At the time, he didn’t think he’d won, expecting some of the more experienced players behind to have gone deeper under par.
But it wasn’t to be for them, and Cameron was declared the champion.
He’ll get his name on the honours board, but the coveted parking place may have to wait, mainly because, well, it’s only his first win, and secondly, he doesn’t have a driver’s licence yet, never mind a car!
Multiple past champion Gavin Sole (Southbroom) was five shots behind, making a tentative return to golf after a nasty injury last month.
He was on hand as defending champion to hand over the trophy to the youngster. No doubt he’ll want it back next year!
B Division honours went to Sbu Ntozakhe on 42 points off a 12 handicap, three ahead of Vusie Maphumulo.
The C Division was won by Peter Middlewick on 38 points, with Hashim Bham being counted out into second place.
Debbie Dellieu won the ladies’ division on 39 points, with Precious Mkhungo next on 33 points.
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