Fierce battles loom at 26th Indwe SA Senior IPT

Central Gauteng will be looking to extend their dominance in the Indwe SA Senior Amateur Inter-Provincial Tournament, when the 26th edition of the country’s largest national Senior team competition tees off at De Zalze and Erinvale from 7-11 April this year.

The Central Gauteng Senior A-side claimed back-to-back victories in 2002 and 2003, but were denied a hat-trick by KwaZulu-Natal in 2004.

They reclaimed the title in 2005 and dominated the podium for six consecutive years until 2011 when the Western Province claimed both the Senior and Super Seniors Divisions at Parys Golf Club.

The Province sides retained their championship titles in both divisions in Durban in 2012, but their Senior A-team were forced to handover the title when Central Gauteng claimed their eighth Indwe SA Senior Amateur Inter-Provincial title with a clean sweep at the Euphoria Golf Estate last year.

“We are certainly looking forward to this year’s tournament,” said Indwe Risk Services managing director Peter Olyott. “The Western Province have a very strong A-side and hold the home course advantage, but Central Gauteng A has a proud history in this event, especially over the last 12 years, and they are determined to hang on to the title,” he elaborated.

The format for all the divisions in the 26th Indwe SA Senior Amateur Inter-Provincial will be foursomes and singles over four rounds of competition. Lawrence Franklin, Jock Wellington, Schalk Naude, Gavin van Aswegen and David Stratton will return to the tournament again this year, while Alan Fraser, Colin Haywood and Tim Hewan will join the action when the defending champions tee it off in Province’s backyard this April.

Meanwhile the Western Province Super Seniors will hunt their fourth consecutive title after claiming their third successive title in Limpopo last year.

Murray Gilbert, Richard Bruyns, Colin Weinstein and Keith Rosenbaum will aim to make it a Central Gauteng double, but the quartet could be hard pushed to dethrone last year’s victorious campaigners Herman September, Ivan Palframan, Jonathan Hobday and newcomer Mark Hair at home.

“In our industry, we endeavour to calculate the risks and remove surprises, but the Inter-Provincial is by its very nature unpredictable and often kicks up a surprise winner. Over the years, we have seen the best teams take a beating while the dark horse wins the race.” Olyott said.

“We are proud to provide the country’s senior players with a competitive environment through our sponsorship of this event and the SA Senior Amateur Open Championship. We look forward to a fierce competition and wish them all the best for a successful tournament,” Olyott concluded.

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