Half a point costs UGC’s Allerton league men

By P Utter

BOTH Umkomaas Golf Club (UGC) men and women played their leagues this past Sunday with varying degrees of success.

The girls played at Port Shepstone in the South Coast regional league against Port Shepstone, which would never have been an easy game, even at the best of times.

Unfortunately UGC’s girls were defeated by their opposition, and only Annette Gillett and Denise Nell managed to take the Sheppie girls to the last hole. The next SCR league game is on 20 September at Amanzimtoti Golf Club.

The men played Allerton league which was 36 holes at UGC, winning their games nine and three at the end of the day’s play. Unfortunately they lost out on winning the overall league by half a point but hopefully they will be inspired and fired up to start all over again next February. Congratulations to Nelson and his team on a great result – well played every one of you. Many thanks go to Dawn and her staff for the catering which was delicious. All the players had nothing but good things to say about the food and atmosphere. Well done, guys.

According to both the PGA and Web.com Tours, Tim Clark and Garth Mulroy are playing on these tours this week. Tim is in Greensboro, North Carolina for the Wyndham Championships and Garth is in Knoxville, Tennessee to play in the News Sentinel Open. UGC wishes them both good luck as they tee-up with the best of them on Thursday.

Wednesday welcomed regular visitors to the club, Mike and Magda Espach and Matt Hamer to the Eagle Canyon Spur sponsored competition. As luck would have it, Matt Hamer won the individual stableford with 37 points, counting out Barrie Taylor into second place, also with 37 points. Andy (again) Davidge took home third prize with 36 points, leaving Wally Kent in fourth spot with 35 points.

The eighth round of the alliance league on Saturday was very well supported by both members and visitors alike. Club captain, Peter Toward welcomed all visitors – too many to mention individually – at prize-giving. It was the ‘Flower Power’ team of Peter Toward, Linda Toward, Keith Vergottini and Lesa Vergottini who lifted the first prize with their 91 points closely followed by the ‘Swingers’ team – Annette Gillett, John Gillett, Rob Finlay and Andy (again) Davidge with 90 points. The ‘Dream Team’ of Sabiha Bacaus, Jacques Hulley, Dave Mulroy and visitor Julien le Pront had to be satisfied with third spot this week with 89 points, counting out ‘The Bar Flies’ who also had 89 points. Claude Osborne won the jackpot with 12 good points. Thanks to Glenda Davidge, husband Andy won the hidden birdie on the 12th hole. There were five two-clubs – Liv Mazzaro fourth; Peter Toward ninth; Robbie Small 13th and Lindani Mthiyane and Jimmy Spear on the 17th. Etienne Botha had already left the club so the attendance draw will be carried over to next week.

Peter Williamson won the football sweep with Ipswich Town. Well done to all the prize winners.

Next Saturday, 22 August is the Widenham Trophy individual stableford competition with social golf on Sunday, 23 August. For those players in the matchplay competition, tee-off is from 7am on Saturday and Sunday. Call the office for more information.

By the time this report is in the papers, there will only be about 10 days left to the club’s annual fundraising day on Saturday, 29 August. All members who put their names forward for prizes and so on, the office is open everyday from 6.30am to 2pm. The time sheet is filling up fast – call the office for a tee time on 039-973-1042.

A reminder that the Sanlam Cancer Challenge regional finals will be played at Royal Durban Golf Club for the women and at Selborne Golf Club for the men. All members who qualify for this tournament are to make themselves available to play on Sunday, 30 August at these venues.

Visit UGC’s website at www.umkomaasgolf.co.za