Central Gauteng celebrates SA U-13 success
2017 Nomads SA U-13 Championship champions Central Gauteng; credit Michael Sheehan.
6 October 2017 – Amilkar Bhana put an exclamation mark on a successful title defence while helping Central Gauteng to their first victory in the Nomads SA Under-13 Championship at Port Elizabeth Golf Club on Thursday.
Central Gauteng headed into the final day’s action in a tie for the lead with North West after earlier rounds of 376 and 400.
For a third day running, the juniors were subjected to strong wind and low temperatures, but 12-year-old Bhana stepped up to the plate. The 2017 Gowrie SA U-15 Challenge champion was four off the pace at the start of the final round, but he edged into the lead with 11 straight pars.
After landing a pair of birdies at 12 and 13, Bhana cancelled a lone bogey at 15 with a birdie at 16 and drained an eagle putt at the final hole to anchor the team with a four-under-par 68.
Boosted by Bhana’s effort, the team constructed a final round 377 to celebrate a five shot victory over North West on 1153. Jaden Deltel also dipped under par with a 71, Joshua Hirsh and Stephanie Barbaglia returned rounds of 79 and Hannes Strooh contributed an 80.
Team manager Vijay Bhana was bursting with pride over his son’s achievement, but was quick to point out that the victory was a team effort.
“There was no stars on this team, just six players who played for each other,” said Bhana. “The first two rounds were incredibly tough on these pint-sized juniors. They really battled, but they played their hearts out while the wind tore around the course at 45 to 50 kilometres per hour.
“After we drew with North West in the second round, I told the guys just go out there in the final round and to have some fun. The weather was going to let up a little and I wanted them to go out there and just hit the ball with some freedom. But their commitment to win won out.
“They showed so much heart this week and punched well above their weight given the adverse weather conditions. They never complained and they played as a team for the team. Yes, I am proud of Amilkar for surprising all of us, but I am incredibly proud of what this team achieved.
“We want to share this victory to all the people who has given us so much support and we dedicate this to the Andy Truluck, the Central Gauteng Golf Union and all the parents. We are proud to share this amazing achievement with all of you.”
North West fought bravely, but despite a great 72 from South African Golf Development Board player Rorisang Nkosi in the final round, the side came up short for a second year running.
Stefano Marchetti carded 74, Ockert Brits returned a 75, Dandre de Villiers posted 79 and Luc Gavagnin signed for 82 to give North West a final round total of 382 and a tournament tally of 1158.
Gauteng North finished third on 1166 after a final round 384 compiled by Joshua Koekemoer (70), Dujuan Snyman (73), Fabrizio de Abreu (75), Phil Snyman (78) and Henry Juan Human (88).
Nomads SA U-13 Championship Individual winner Amilkar Bhana from Central Gauteng; credit Michael Sheehan
Bhana sealed his title defence in the Individual Competition on one-over-par 217 with the low round of the tournament.
Marchetti took second and Joshua Koekemoer from Gauteng North closed with a 70 to finish third on 222. Dujuan Snyman from Gauteng North moved to fourth on 225 with a final round 73.
Local hero Jordon Wessels from Wedgewood Country Club gave the home crowd lots to cheer about when he signed for a 71 to seal a top five finish on 227.
TEAM RESULT
(Best five of six scores to count)
1153 Central Gauteng 376 Hannes Strooh 71 Amilkar Bhana 72 Joshua Hirsch 77 Jaden Deltel 77 Stephanie Barbaglia 79; 400 Amilkar Bhana 77 Hannes Strooh 78 Joshua Hirsch 79 Cayden Lasarow 83 Jaden Deltel 83; 377 Amilkar Bhana 68 Jaden Deltel 71 Joshua Hirsch 79 Stephanie Barbaglia 79 Hannes Strooh 80
1158 North West 375 Stefano Marchetti 69 Ockert Brits 71 Rorisang Nkosi 77 Dandre de Villiers 78 Leonard Bevan 80; 401 Stefano Marchetti 78 Luc Gavagnin 79 Rorisang Nkosi 79 Leonard Bevan 82 Dandre de Villiers 83; 382 Rorisang Nkosi 72 Stefano Marchetti 74 Ockert Brits 75 Dandre de Villiers 79 Luc Gavagnin 82
1166 Gauteng North 384 Dujuan Snyman 74 Joshua Koekemoer 76 Henry Juan Human 76 Phil Snyman 78 Fabrizio de Abreu 80; 398 Joshua Koekemoer 76 Dujuan Snyman 78 Fabrizio de Abreu 80 Phil Snyman 81 Henry Juan Human 83; 384 Joshua Koekemoer 70 Dujuan Snyman 73 Fabrizio de Abreu 75 Phil Snyman 78 Henry Juan Human 88
1173 Western Province 384 Jack Buchanan 75 Caden Chuang 75 Matthew Lotz 77 James Ricketts 78 Eric Venter 79; 408 Jack Buchanan 73 Matthew Lotz 81 Caden Chuang 83 James Ricketts 84 Eric Venter 87; 381 Eric Venter 72 Matthew Lotz 73 Caden Chuang 74 Jack Buchanan 80 James Ricketts 82
1226 Ekurhuleni 398 Kiera Floyd 73 Hunter Walker 78 Tyron Groenveld 81 Marno Lange 83 Corne Jansen 83; 431 Marno Lange 77 Kiera Floyd 79 Hunter Walker 87 Tyron Groenveld 92 Corne Jansen 96; 397 Hunter Walker 75 Kiera Floyd 77 Marno Lange 80 Siyabonga Magubane 82 Tyron Groenveld 83
1227 Southern Cape 402 Tiaan Hugo 73 Trent Evans 80 Eduard Coetzee 81 Kass Muller 83 Ryan Melville 85; 420 Tiaan Hugo 82 Ryan Melville 83 Eduard Coetzee 84 Trent Evans 84 Kass Muller 87; 405 Eduard Coetzee 75 Tiaan Hugo 80 Trent Evans 81 Ryan Melville 82 Kass Muller 87
1252 SA Kids 404 Rialdo de Bruyn 74 Ruben Jansen van Rensburg 79 Keagan Crosbie 79 Bernhard Köster 85 Yusuf Dadoo 87; 443 Ruben Jansen van Rensburg 81 Rialdo de Bruyn 85 Bernhard Köster 91 Yusuf Dadoo 93 Keagan Crosbie 93; 405 Ruben Jansen van Rensburg 77 Bernhard Köster 80 Kwantu Dolomba 81 Keagan Crosbie 81 Rialdo de Bruyn 86
1259 Boland 405 Conrad Loubser 77 Dylan Kayne 77 Ineke Brynard 82 Auden Julies 83 Ghery Rabie 86; 424 Conrad Loubser 79 Dylan Kayne 82 Auden Julies 84 Ineke Brynard 88 Ghery Rabie 91; 430 Dylan Kayne 76 Conrad Loubser 85 Auden Julies 85 Ghery Rabie 90 Ineke Brynard 94
1280 Eastern Province 419 Jordan Wessels 76 Johndre Ludick 84 Shane Hayward 85 Devon Valentine 87 Charles Rose-Innes 87; 442 Jordan Wessels 80 Johndre Ludick 85 Devon Valentine 88 Shane Hayward 94 Charles Rose-Innes 95; 419 Jordan Wessels 71 Devon Valentine 84 Shane Hayward 87 Johndre Ludick 88 Rostin Adams 89
1359 Border 445 Ryan Koekemoer 80 Jason Brooks 85 Edward Abrahams 89 Benjamin Weber 95 Stephen Aylesbury 96; 459 Ryan Koekemoer 85 Edward Abrahams 87 Jason Brooks 90 Stephen Aylesbury 98 Luke Moore 99; 455 Ryan Koekemoer 87 Edward Abrahams 89 Jason Brooks 90 Benjamin Weber 94 Stephen Aylesbury 95
1362 Mpumalanga 458 Iwann le Roux 84 Dian Rossouw 88 Derrick Howard 89 Antoni Theron 94 Lucia Mhlabane 103; 461 Danie (Jnr) Strydom 85 Dian Rossouw 93 Derrick Howard 93 Iwann le Roux 95 Antoni Theron 95; 443 Derrick Howard 83 Iwann le Roux 84 Antoni Theron 88 Dian Rossouw 93 Lucia Mhlabane 95
1370 Northern Cape 451 Jano Malan 77 Fareez Alexander 84 Lourens Maritz 93 Johan van Niekerk 98 Juvanre Brink 99; 470 Jano Malan 86 Petrus Karsten 92 Fareez Alexander 94 Juvanre Brink 99 Lourens Maritz 99; 449 Jano Malan 77 Petrus Karsten 87 Lourens Maritz 92 Fareez Alexander 94 Juvanre Brink 99
INDIVIDUAL RESULT – TOP 20
217 Amilkar Bhana 72 77 68
221 Stefano Marchetti 69 78 74
222 Joshua Koekemoer 76 76 70
225 Dujuan Snyman 74 78 73
227 Jordan Wessels 76 80 71
228 Rorisang Nkosi 77 79 72; Jack Buchanan 75 73 80
229 Kiera Floyd 73 79 77; Hannes Strooh 71 78 80
231 Jaden Deltel 77 83 71; Matthew Lotz 77 81 73; Ockert Brits 71 85 75
232 Caden Chuang 75 83 74
235 Fabrizio de Abreu 80 80 75; Dylan Kayne 77 82 76; Joshua Hirsch 77 79 79; Tiaan Hugo 73 82 80
237 Ruben Jansen van Rensburg 79 81 77; Phil Snyman 78 81 78
238 Eric Venter 79 87 72
MAIN PHOTO:
Nomads SA U-13 Championship champions Central Gauteng with Nomads Captain Eastern Cape Martin Kunhard, Kenneth Snape from Nomads Furtherance of Golf and Port Elizabeth Golf Club President Bernard Nagel; credit Michael Sheehan.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA, a SAGA and WGSA Not-For-Profit company.