Strokes ahead Sabiha advances to cancer challenge nationals

By P Utter

THE wind has certainly blown all the cobwebs away by now and if any golfer managed to play reasonably well in it, it augurs well for the rest of the year.

Let’s hope, with Spring in the air, the weather will improve somewhat in the not too distant future. With snow on the Berg (it’s September for goodness sake.) the weather patterns are really upside down right now.

Three Umkomaas Golf Club (UGC) women played in the regional final of the Sanlam Cancer challenge last Sunday at Royal Durban, Sabiha Bacaus, A division; Annette Thorold, B division and Leigh Beckerling, C division. All are an enormous credit to UGC and a huge thank you to Annette for driving all the way from Port Edward where she now lives, to play in this final. Well done to them all. Despite the aforementioned horrendous wind on Sunday, Sabiha Bacaus won the A division and will be flying off to Sun City for the national finals sometime in October. Many congratulations Sabiha on your tremendous win at Royal Durban, you certainly deserve it since you have been playing such great golf of late.

Two senior women played in the finals of the Natalia foursomes on Monday at Amanzimtoti Golf Club. Women captain, Bryony Rogers and Annette Thorold played what was to have been a 36 hole competition but the match was finally conceded by their opponents, Hilary Holmes and Mogie Moodley from Scottburgh Golf Club. Unfortunately, Hilary had injured her hand previously and was finding that 36 holes was a little too much for her. Therefore, UGC’s women have won, by default, the Natalia Foursomes.The trophy will be presented at inter club in October and it’s congratulations, once again, to both Bryony and Annette for bringing the trophy back to UGC (in October). The club is enormously proud of the women and with very good reason. Well done, girls.

The men played Allerton league last Sunday at Windsor Golf Club against Maritzburg Golf Club, winning 7-5. Well done to Jacques Hulley in his very first Allerton league game, halving his match and then there was Derek Airey. Derek played out of his socks and was the absolute star of the team. Not forgetting the other members of the UGC team who all played exceptionally well. Congratulations guys, you will all be playing in the next league game, for sure.

Once again, Tim Clark is dealing with injuries, having to withdraw from the Deutsche Bank Tournament in Boston, Massachusetts last weekend, as is Garth Mulroy who is on a medical exemption for the rest of the year. His back has been troubling him for some time and with this exemption, it allows him to get medically fit again to play. Everyone at UGC wishes our ‘boys’ a speedy recovery from whatever ails them.

As always, last Wednesday was the individual stableford competition and there was a name we don’t see too often on the prize-giving sheet last week. The winner on 41 points was none other than Chris Viljoen with Dave Kemp, three shots behind in second place with 38 points. Picking up the slack in third spot was ‘evergreen’ Ken Harding with 35 points.

Saturday’s competition deviated a little from the usual inasmuch only five clubs and a putter were permitted in the bag. Every player thoroughly enjoyed themselves, meeting the challenge and entering into the spirit of the competition. Visitors Clyde Leisegang, Gary Grant, Andy and Matthew Hamilton, Charles Domingo and Pat Fowler were welcomed to the club by club captain, Peter Toward.

The winners, taking into account a wind of hurricane proportions blowing through in the afternoon, were Bing Opie and a delighted Michelle van der Westhuizen on 48 stupendous points, followed by Val Hazell and Johan Hugo in second spot with 44 points. Viv Naicker and son, Tash took home the third prize on 43 points and trailing a bit, just managing fourth place were Michelle van der Merwe and Derek Airey on 42 points. Congratulations to all the players – you are all now able to play in any weather conditions.

The jackpot was won by Michelle van der Merwe on 10 points. Sabiha Bacaus snatched up the hidden birdie ‘kitty’ on the 18th hole. Johan Hugo had a fantastic game getting two 2-Clubs on the fourth and ninth holes. Devlyn Fraser also had a 2-Club on the fourth hole. The winner in the ‘non skills department’ was Willem Muller, who was at the club to collect his winnings.

All members and friends are reminded of the Zimbo Trophy which is to be played on Saturday, 20 September. The format is a modified stableford. For more information, call the club on 039-973-1042. On the following Wednesday, 24 September, the Tombstone Tournament has been arranged which also happens to be National Braai Day. The format for the tombstone competition is medal – the green fees, including competition fee, will be R100.

The competition next weekend is the Toyota Halfway Malanda monthly medal with social golf on Sunday.

Six-Pin is on Friday afternoons at 2.30pm. Anyone who wishes to play six holes to destress from work, this is for you. Also the Gerry Hatricks play on Tuesdays and Fridays at 7am. All are welcome to join them. Call Graham on 083-325-5705 or Keith on 083-305-5740.

All UGC’s information can be found at www.umkomaasgolf.co.za