Comfortable golf league win for AGC’s Allerton team

By Mrs Furyk

AND so the men’s league season draws to a close, and of Amanzimtoti Golf Club’s (AGC) three teams who set out to compete for honours at the start of the year, the Allerton boys were the most successful in their efforts, winning their league comfortably even before their last fixture began.

Well done to Tommy and the team on a job well done.

With the result of no importance, the Allerton boys came second to their opposition on Sunday at Cotswold, with the wind playing a huge role in the day’s play. The score-line was 6.5/5.5 to the Cotswold team.

The B team men also did not fare very well on the day, going down 9/3 to Durban Golf Club on that club’s home ground. After the foursomes, the score was 4/0 to Durban Golf Club, and Toti’s men had a mountain to climb, but things didn’t go their way at all. Five of the singles matches were lost and only Matt Hamer, Rob Roux and Nico Vogel dented the opposition’s scorecard in the singles games.

In the final game of the season, Toti’s premier side lost 8.5/3.5 to Durban Country Club’s top side on Sunday, sadly breaking their undefeated run at home this season.

Some notable performances on the day were delivered by the foursomes pairing of Sadeak Khader and Kalvin van Rensburg, who fought back from being four down after seven holes, to halve their match. Mark Cowie got his foursomes monkey off his back with a very impressive victory in the morning. Sadeak’s son Faraan, who came into the side as a late super-sub for Jacques Nel, partnered Mark to this victory. Well done Faraan for coming in at such late notice, and for reminding Mark how to wake up earlier on Sunday mornings.

In the afternoon singles matches, Michael ‘Dunnies’ Dunlop triumphed over one of KZN’s biggest names, Murray Gilson. Playing with Dunnies in the afternoon was Kirk ‘Puff’ Newton, who made his return to the side, albeit with some assistance in the form of a motorised cart. In one of the biggest upsets in recent history, Puff managed to get the better of his opponent, Keith Forde. Puff’s victory reminded everyone, most importantly himself, of the talent that he possesses, and the club sincerely hopes he will now start to hone that talent and become a regular winner in these circles.

This game once again provided the reasonably young side, loaded with up-and-coming talent and one or two ‘old’ masters, with valuable experience when it comes to competing against the best the province has to offer. One can definitely sense the belief and the spirit developing in this team with every game, and they are already looking at how to make 2015 their best season yet.

The premier side sincerely thanks all supporters who came down to spur the guys on so often during the season. Although Ryder Cup heights were never reached, every single sign of support really played its part and the club looks forward to seeing all next year.

On Sunday three women, Thanda Zama, Sue Boucher and Sue Conlan competed in the regional finals of the Sanlam Cancer Challenge, and by all reports the weather proved the winner. Fifty kilometre per hour winds buffeted the course, blowing balls off the green and bringing the out of bounds into the equation more than is normal for a game at Royal Durban. While the scores from the women did not quite make the podium, the club still congratulates them on flying the Toti flag high, and doing their bit for charity.

On Wednesday, 32 players competed in the IPS competition, with Bobby Milne once again producing the goods with a fine 40 points, followed by a visitor Mr B. Jackson on 37, winning the count out from Terry Cousins, also on 37 points.

Friday’s nine hole sundowner competition had a small field of 19 players, and Nigel Johnson took full advantage of the run on the course to post 20 points, followed by Norbert Dupont with 17.

The women played a three-ball alliance on Saturday, waltz format, and Brenda Morgan, Ina de Boer and Lass Davis led the field home with 81 points, followed by Gerda Heydenrych, Adri Slabbert and Jacqui Porrill on 77 points. The nearest the pin went to Colleen Smit on the 15th.

For only the second or third time this year, the morning field produced the winners of the men’s Saturday competition when Wikus van Wyk and Ernie Crots came storming home with 48 points, followed by Rob Wilson and Sean Mellon on 46, counting out Nic Britz and Terry Cousins. Nearest the pin on the 15th was Mervyn Naidoo, and the jackpot and attendance draw were not won so carry over to next weekend.

On behalf of Shirley Petzer and the grounds team, many thanks to all who supported the raffle to raise funds to buy new hosepipes for the gardens and club surrounds. The raffle was won by Bobby Milne, who promptly donated it back to the club to raffle off again this coming Saturday, which means everyone will all have another chance at winning the hamper.

The annual summer preparation of the greens has begun, with all the greens being hollow tined and top dressing and further treatment to follow. Conditions for the monthly mug / medal competitions this weekend will no doubt be a bit challenging, but the results will make the inconvenience most worthwhile.

AGC is holding its annual South Coast Classic fundraising golf day on Sunday, 28 September, and sponsors and players will need to act quickly to secure their participation in this event. Tee off times are available both in the morning and the afternoon, and the cost per player is R175. Call Tommy McNaughton on 082-880-8530 or contact the club on 031-902-1166 and speak to Wendy for more information or to book your spot in the field.