Modderfontein defends Oosthuizen Champs
The four-man junior team from Modderfontein Golf Club defended their Louis Oosthuizen SA Junior Club Teams Championship title with a brilliant wire-to-wire victory at Mossel Bay Golf Club on Sunday.
The Modderfontein juniors hit the front with a first round 212 and combined for a 217 in the second round to hold on to pole position. Marco Steyn, Dylan Naidoo and newcomer Eric Wowor combined for a final round one-under-par 215 to seal the team’s back-to-back success.
Kingswood Golf Club vaulted into second on 650 with a final round 213, while Dainfern Country Club and Centurion Golf Club tied for third on 653.
While the field played the first two rounds in a cool south-easterly wind, the 20 teams arrived to find a blustery north-westerly wind tearing around at the par-72 layout.
The Gauteng quartet carried a six stroke lead into the final round over Dainfern and simply took the overcast and cold conditions in their stride.
Steyn carded a 70, Naidoo contributed a 72, Wowor registered a tournament best round of 73 and Karabo Mokoena closed with a non-counting 79.
Team manager Lance Michler was full of praise for his young charges.
“This win was a fantastic team effort and I am incredibly proud off all four players,” Michler said.
“We knew going into the championship that it would be tough, but the players handled the pressure and delivered a winning performance.
“Marco, Karabo and Dylan produced the goods in the first two rounds, and our newbie Eric got over his nerves and came through for the team in the final round.
“We had no heroes on this team; they all played for each other and stood up to be counted over the three rounds. That’s what a team completion is all about.”
Meanwhile David Meyers from Dainfern carded rounds of 72, 67 and 65 to top the Individual Standings on 12-under-par 204.
The recent Mpumalanga Championship winner finished one stroke clear of Jason Froneman from Kempton Park (71 68 66) and three shots ahead of Modderfontein’s Steyn (65 73 70).
FINAL TEAM LEADERBOARD
644 – Modderfontein Golf Club 212 217 215
650 – Kingswood Golf Club 216 221 213
653 – Dainfern Country Club 224 211 218; Centurion Golf Club 215 223 215
660 – Steenberg Golf Club 215 223 222
661 – Randpark Golf Club 231 221 209; Kempton Park Golf Club 223 217 221
664 – Mount Edgecombe Country Club 225 222 217
673 – Bloemfontein Golf Club 229 223 221
677 – Fancourt 226 228 223
679 – State Mines Golf Club 230 225 224
690 – East London Golf Club 228 236 226
691 – Louis 57 Golf Academy 230 233 228
707 – Royal Durban Golf Club 228 236 243
712 – Middelburg Country Club 231 241 240
713 – Rondebosch Golf Club 239 227 247
721 – Blue Valley Golf Club 245 234 242
722 – Nelspruit Golf Club 234 241 247
772 – Kimberley Golf Club 261 260 251
FINAL INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD (TOP 10)
204 – David Meyers 72 67 65
205 – Jason Froneman 71 68 66
208 – Marco Steyn 65 73 70
211 – Rosswell Sinclair 71 67 73
212 – Cameron Moralee 68 73 71
214 – Dylan Naidoo 70 72 72
215 – Jabulane Mabilane 74 72 69
216 – Noel Anderson 69 73 74
217 – Kyle Barker 74 75 68; Allan Lones 72 76 69
Modderfontein Golf Club Junior Team:
Left to right: Karabo Mokoena, Marco Steyn, Dylan Naidoo, Eric Wowor, Lance Michler (team manager); credit Deon Smith / Immanuel Photography.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.