There haven’t been too many days in the past few months when Cameron Olivant (16) hasn’t played a game of golf.
Not that he minds, of course, and when it’s rained he has been bored, itching to play.
The teenager rounded off last year with a wonderful performance at the South African U19 Interprovincial held in Polokwane.
KwaZulu-Natal won the B-division in some style and can look forward to this year’s tournament with confidence as six of the eight players will be available again.
Cameron formed a fantastic foursomes duo with Ryan Fisher (Mount Edgecombe CC), and then more than held his own in the singles.
The other six members were Matt Gouws (Zimbali – captain), Harry Clayton (Zimbali), Jamie Smith (Royal Durban), Santiago dos Santos (Simbithi), Tylo Naidoo (Amanzimtoti) and Revashan Naidoo (Umdoni Park).
At the recent GolfRSA event at Selborne Park, he finished 29th with scores of 78, 76 and 70. He was disappointed with this result, with too many double bogeys creeping onto the card.
However, over the three days he eagled the par four 18th twice and birdied the tough, uphill 9th twice, which may, ironically be more difficult!
Aside from this there have been four local tournaments in which a number of South Coast juniors have played.
First up was a tournament at Selborne Park on January 3, won by Ryan Fisher on 74. Cameron didn’t play this one.
Best of the locals was Talan Roos (Southbroom) on 80, with Cody Dry (Southbroom) on 81.
Kiara Naicker (Port Shepstone) shot 93 and Arav Maharaj (Port Shepstone) 95.
Five days later it was a game at Southbroom, won by Cameron on 73. Kaleb McNally (Durban CC) was runner-up on 74.
Kiara scored 84, Talan 87 and Grant Richards (Southbroom) 90.
The next day’s tourney was played at Port Shepstone CC, won again by Cameron, on a disappointing 74 by his standards, especially on his home course.
Kaleb was runner-up again, on 77. Talan had 86, Grant 87, Kiara 87, Arav 88 and Cody 89.
The final event was held at Margate CC the following day, with Cameron making it three in a row with a superb, bogey-free 69.
Runners-up were Reece Raw (Zimbali) and Rory Bernardis (Umkomaas), both on 74.
Grant was much improved with 76, Matthew Evans (Margate CC) had his best tournament round of 77, Cody shot 79, Talan had 84 and Kiara 96.
Others who played included Alexander Rossouw, Nathan Le Roux and Zanté du Toit.
Cameron can now look forward to a busy schedule, starting with the defence of the East Griqualand Open this Sunday and the San Lameer Open the following Sunday.
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