Golf the champion at International Triangular
Golf was the ultimate winner in the annual International Triangular between the South African Golf Association’s Junior Team, the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) and a team from the Scottish Golf Union at Wanderers Golf Club on Wednesday.
The SAGA Juniors amassed 15.5 points to claim the country’s third successive victory in the contest, while Scotland finished a close second with 13.5 points and the SAGDB celebrated their best performance since the Triangular first launched in 2010 with seven points.
All three teams enjoyed the tight contests, the close misses and fantastic saves, but the happiest man on the day was Ewen Ferguson caddie, who left the course sporting a brand new pair of shiny white trainers and socks.
One of the bagman’s shoes had come apart between the upper and the sole and he had tied it together with a shoe lace. The Scotsman noticed and took the caddie to the pro shop after the Foursomes and treated him to new kit.
This small act of kindness personified the spirit, camaraderie and sportsmanship shown by the 24 players and truly celebrated the unique values of the game.
After back-to-back victories in 2013 and 2014, top SA juniors Ross Sinclair, Luca Filippi, JP Cooper, Cameron Moralee, Marco Steyn, Dylan Naidoo, Kyle McClatchie and Herman Loubser were tasked to hunt down a hat-trick in this year’s event.
The SA Juniors quickly stamped their authority in the Foursomes, scoring a clean sweep against the SAGDB and a 3 – 1 result against the Scots.
The Scottish side, comprising players of the Scottish Golf Union’s Mens and Junior National squads, started the Singles with 3.5 points after a 2.5 – 1.5 result against the SAGDB.
The SA Juniors had to work hard in the Singles, though.
The Scots turned up the heat and the SA juniors had to grind out a narrow 6.5 – 5.5 victory. The SAGDB players were equally ferocious and managed to claim three valuable points with two halves and two wins.
Scotland were also surprised by the SAGDB learners, who fought valiantly to finish with a 2.5 – 5.5 result.
When KwaZulu-Natal’s Siyanda Mwandla holed a 15-footer at the 18th to halve his games against Ben Kinsley from Scotland and Rosswell Sinclair from Gauteng North and clinch the SAGDB’s seventh point, the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation player walked off the green under loud applause.
The eight amateurs exchanged high fives and their reason for their celebration was simple.
“We may have finished at the bottom, but we to look beyond the final scores,” said team manager Andre Rossouw.
“The players gave everything they’ve got and they never gave up. We were well-beaten in the Foursomes, but the players put their hearts on the line in the Singles and the games were all very tight.
“We lost our first Triangular by more than 20 points to the SA juniors, but this year we lost by just eight points. Every year we improve and that alone is cause for celebration. I am extremely proud of how they performed. This has been our best result in six years and we intend to keep on improving.”
SA JUNIORS vs SAGDB
FOURSOMES
Marco Steyn & Dylan Naidoo beat Fezekile Kana & Andile Adam 4/3
Kyle McClatchie & Luca Filippi beat Hayden Garcia & Evance Vukeya 2/1
Cameron Moralee & Ross Sinclair beat Siyanda Mwandla & Kwanela Mkhoma 1 up
JP Cooper & Herman Loubser beat Neswill Croy & Franklin Manchest 2/1
SINGLES
Luca Filippi beat Andile Adam 4/3
JP Cooper halved Kwanela Mkhoma A/S
Cameron Moralee lost to Franklin Manchest 2 up
Marco Steyn beat Fezekile Kana 3/2
Dylan Naidoo beat Evance Vukeya 1 up
Kyle McClatchie beat Hayden Garcia 5/4
Herman Loubser lost to Neswill Croy 3/2
SA JUNIORS vs SCOTLAND
FOURSOMES
Marco Steyn & Dylan Naidoo beat Ewen Ferguson & Craig Ross 4/3
Kyle McClatchie & Luca Filippi beat Greig Marchbank & Scott Gibson 3/2
Cameron Moralee & Ross Sinclair lost to Ben Kinsley & Connor Syme 2/1
JP Cooper & Herman Loubser beat Jamie Savage & Danny Young 2/1
SINGLES
Ross Sinclair beat Ben Kinsley 1 up
Luca Filippi beat Greig Marchbank 1 up
JP Cooper lost to Danny Young 3/2
Cameron Moralee lost to Jamie Savage 3/2
Marco Steyn halved Ewen Ferguson A/S
Dylan Naidoo lost to Craig Ross 1 up
Kyle McClatchie beat Scott Gibson 5/4
Herman Loubser lost to Connor Syme 4/3
SCOTLAND vs SAGDB
FOURSOMES
Ewen Ferguson & Craig Ross lost to Fezekile Kana & Andile Adam 3/1
Greig Marchbank & Scott Gibson halved Hayden Garcia & Evance Vukeya A/S
Ben Kinsley & Connor Syme beat Siyanda Mwandla & Kwanela Mkhoma 5/4
Jamie Savage & Danny Young beat Neswill Croy & Franklin Manchest 1 up
SINGLES
Ben Kinsley halved Siyanda Mwandla A/S
Greig Marchbank beat Andile Adam 4/3
Danny Young beat Kwanela Mkhoma 3/2
Jamie Savage halved Franklin Manchest A/S
Ewen Ferguson beat Fezekile Kana 4/2
Craig Ross halved Evance Vukeya A/S
Scott Gibson lost to Hayden Garcia 1 up
Connor Syme beat Neswill Croy 3/2
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.