WP Super Seniors charged for INDWE Senior IPT defence
Mark Hair, Ivan Palframan, Herman September and Tim Hewan are primed to chase down an unprecedented fifth Super Senior title for Western Province in the 27th INDWE SA Senior Amateur Inter-Provincial at the Ebotse Links Golf Club in Benoni on Tuesday.
The Province Super Seniors scored a historic hat-trick in the Super Senior Division at Euphoria Golf Estate in 2013.
Last year, Hair, Palframan, September and Jonathan Hobday celebrated a record fourth successive victory with a clean sweep at De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate and Western Province manager John Winter is quietly confident that side will uphold Province’s proud record in the country’s largest senior amateur team championship.
“We all know that Inter-Provincial contests are notoriously unpredictable, but our Super Senior team has a wealth of experience and I believe that knowledge and skill will stand them in good stead this week,” said Winter.
“The team was selected from the Order of Merit and all four players earned their spots on performances. Naturally, we were sorry to lose Jonathan Hobday, who has been a real stalwart for Western Province and an integral part of our winning history in the last couple of years, but Tim is a very capable player and a wonderful addition to the side.
“To call him a rookie is laughable, really, because Tim represented Central Gauteng for 14 years and was a member of their winning teams on eight occasions. He brings a lot of experience to the team and we are happy to benefit from his switch.”
The Senior and Super Senior teams had their first look at the par-72 Ekurhuleni layout on Sunday.
“The course is in absolutely pristine condition,” Winter said. “The greens are rolling fast and true and the fairways are immaculate. It compares well to the Milnerton Links in terms of the uneven fairways, thick rough and small, deep bunkers.
“The test this week will be understanding this course and learning where to go for it and where to play safe. I think both our teams will have an advantage coming from the coast in executing the kind of low, accurate shots this layout demands.”
Former Players Championship winner Peter van Coller makes a welcome return to this year’s Senior team alongside debutant Craig Poulton.
The pair will join Tony Bailey, Andrew Cleophas, Japie Koopman, Francois le Roux, Brian Mampies and Dirk van der Merwe, who held off a spirited final round charge from defending champions Central Gauteng and Gauteng North last year to collect their third title in four years.
“Central Gauteng, Gauteng North and Ekurhuleni will certainly be looking to spoil our party this year, especially Gauteng North, who are baiting to break a 16-year title drought in the INDWE SA Senior Amateur Inter-Provincial,” Winter said.
“They will really be champing at the bit to finish in the winner’s circle and we expect them to come hard at us, but we are ready for the battle ahead.”
The Province Super Seniors will go up against Boland in their opening match, while Ekurhuleni take on Central Gauteng and Gauteng North face KwaZulu-Natal.
The Senior team will get their title defence underway against Gauteng North and North West.
The host union will go head-to-head with Central Gauteng and Southern Cape, while KwaZulu-Natal will battle Mpumalanga in their opening gambit.
The B-Division matches will be contested at Benoni Country Club. The format for both divisions will be Foursomes and Singles over four rounds of competition.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.