SA seven hunting glory in Mauritius
Seven of the country’s top ranked amateurs will be flying the South African flag in the MCB Indian Ocean Amateur Golf Open at the magnificent Heritage Golf Club in Domaine De Bel-Ombre, Mauritius this weekend.
A podium finish in the world amateur golf ranking event last year instigated a successful run for 2014 champion, Hennie du Plessis from Limpopo, whose season culminated with victory in the Sunshine Tour’s Qualifying School.
The South African seven hoping to follow Du Plessis into the winner’s circle on Sunday have arrived at the Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort carrying hot form into in the 54-hole stroke play championship.
Aubrey Beckley from North West, Jason Smith from Gauteng North and Southern Cape’s Jade Buitendag were members of the team that claimed South Africa’s eighth victory in the Africa Amateur Golf Team Championship at Limuru Country Club in Kenya a fortnight ago.
Beckley also won the Individual Competition.
Reigning SA Mid-Amateur Stroke Play champion Gerlou Roux – the country’s top ranked mid-amateur and a six-time winner this season – flew to Mauritius on the back of the SA Mid-Amateur Inter-Provincial at East London Golf Club, where he helped Western Province to secure a third place finish in the A-Section.
Jason Viljoen was one of the anchors in the victorious Central Gauteng team who won the SA Inter-Provincial at Glendower Golf Club in September, while Ekurhuleni’s Paul Boshoff finished among the top eight Most Valuable Players in the premier national teams championship, sponsored by Tempest.
Central Gauteng’s Matthew Spacey represented South Africa in the biennial Spirit International in Texas earlier this month.
The SA contingent will have to stave off some tough competition, though.
The field this year also includes two of India’s top amateurs, Jabir Singh and Veer Ahlawat, as well as the Mauritius Golf Federation’s top ranked Ludovic Bax and Phil Minkley and the Mauritian chances are further strengthened by the locals and players from the surrounding islands.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.