Jean-Marc Bouic of Southbroom Golf Club has joined the winner’s circle. Finally.
If you’d told him five years ago he’d be winning golf tournaments on the KZN circuit, he may have laughed.
He travelled all the way to Dundee to play in the Northern KZN Open last Sunday. It turned out to be more than worthwhile as he triumphed by five shots with scores of 70 and 71.
Jean-Marc wasn’t sure who was doing what as he came down the final straight, so when a small crowd gathered, some in carts, to watch the finishing holes, he realised it must be close.
After being told he was in the lead, he admitted to experiencing a bout of nerves. “I was thinking, don’t go and shank the wedge into the clubhouse now!”
He needn’t have worried.
Cool as ever, despite the dry heat, he responded by making a birdie on the final hole, rounding off the day in style with a smooth approach and a putt from just off the green.
Dundee Golf Club has proven to be something of a happy hunting ground for Jean-Marc.
This was the venue for the KZN Country Districts tournament in 2020, which was played in November as opposed to its usual March date due to Covid.
Jean-Marc was selected (coerced might be a better word) at the last minute despite having played almost no proper tournament golf.
On a hunch, he was placed at number five in the order, which some felt was a bit of a risk, especially when he came up against the captain of the country district’s team at that time, Koenie Erasmus.
Jean-Marc produced a victory to surprise just about everyone, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Since then, he has played for the country districts and mid-amateur teams at SA Interprovincial tournaments.
In teams, he has captained Southern KZN to a few Country Districts titles. He’s been part of Southbroom GC’s Interclub winning team three times.
He’s come close to winning an individual tournament and had good scores in one round, but never quite been able to get the coveted win.
That’s all changed now.
“It does feel good to have to get a win, certainly made the drive worth it,” he said.
There’s plenty coming up for the top players, with the East Griqualand Champs at Kokstad this Sunday and then the KZN Closed at Selborne Park on February 22 and 23.
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