PRETORIA, 30 October 2014 – Theuni Bezuidenhout added his name to an illustrious list of former champions when he lifted prestigious PWC GNGU Silver Salver at Irene Country Club on Sunday.

Up-and-coming North West amateur tied defending champion Triston Strydom held his nerve to defeat the reigning Nomads SA Boys U-19 Stroke Play champion at the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the next phase of my career,” said the 19-year-old, who recently relocated from Rustenburg to Pretoria to attend the TuksSport Golf Academy.

“It is such an honour to have my name engraved on a trophy that has so many of South Africa’s golfing greats on it. It’s like the who’s who of golf and I feel very proud and privilege to own this title.”

The Silver Salver dates back to 1964. The inaugural event was won by Dave Symmons, who also lifted the Freddie Tait Cup in the 1966 South African Open Championship.

PGA Tour campaigner Hugh Baiocchi won the championship in 1968 and 1996 and European Tour champion Gavan Levenson shared the title in 1975.

“Ernie Els won it in 1989, Retief Goosen the following year and Louis Oosthuizen was the champion in 2001,” Bezuidenhout said.

“The Silver Salver is steeped in history and it’s an awesome feeling to be part of that history now.”

Bezuidenhout reeled in eight birdies against a lone drop for a seven-under-par 65 in the first round, while defending champion Strydom carded an opening 71.

“I didn’t start well in the second round,” said Bezuidenhout. “I dropped four shots to turn in three over and I knew I need to make something happen on the back nine.

“I holed a tough 20-footer with a lot of break on it for birdie at the 12^th and that got me going.”

He parred his way to the 17^th, where he boxed a five-footer for birdie and parred the 18^th for a 73. Having set the 36-target at six-under-par 138, Bezuidenhout settled in to wait for Strydom.

The defending champion launched a spirited charge, but spoiled his chances with a bogey-bogey finish.

Strydom signed for a 67 and the tournament went into extra time.

The pair returned to the par-four first, where Bezuidenhout had to drain a must-make par putt to extend the play-off.

“The second play-off hole was the par-five ninth, and we both hit driver down the fairway,” Bezuidenhout said. “I hit a three-wood just short of the hole and Triston hit a six-iron, but his shot went out of bounds right.

“I chipped it up to 10-foot and he hit it to about the same distance, but he missed the par putt. I had two putts in hand, so I just lagged the first one close and finished it off.”

Bezuidenhout represented North West at U-19 and U-23 level, and made his debut in the premier South African Inter-Provincial, sponsored by Tempest, at Westlake Golf Club in September.

Compiled by Lali Stander

Gerry Few and Theuni Bezuidenhout (Photo by Paul Davel)

HARTEBEESPOORT, 23 October 2014 – Top ranked Mellette Hendrikse put on a classy performance at Pecanwood Country Club to claim his second Indwe Risk Services SA Senior Amateur Stroke Play Championship title with a runaway victory on Friday.

The Pretoria amateur began the final round in a tie for the lead with fellow Gauteng North golfer, Chris Delport, on six under and a two stroke advantage over evergreen Jock Wellington, a three-time winner of the prestigious senior championship.

Hendrikse produced a clinical, comprehensive two-under-par 70 to triumph on eight under 136, finishing a magnificent five strokes clear of Delport and Wellington, who carded respective rounds of 73 and 75.

“At our age, you grow old fast in a year that it is really an incredible privilege for anyone to win this championship twice, let alone three times like Jock did,” said the delighted champion.

“I am so thrilled to put my name on the trophy and, if I am even halfway as competitive as I am now, I’ll definitely have another go next year.”

Hendrikse won the event in 2012, and was two shots off the pace through two rounds when his title defence in Fancourt was derailed by thunderstorms in the final round, which eventually forced organisers to call a 36-hole result.

He admits to a brief feeling of de-ja-vu when the siren rung out across the Hartebeespoortdam course as he was lining up for birdie at the 16^th green.

“All I could think was ‘not again’,” Hendrikse stated. “I told my wife during the break that I wouldn’t actually mind sharing the trophy with Chris is they cancelled the final round.

“He is great friend, my captain at Gauteng North and kept me under pressure in the final round.”

Hendrikse interrupted a string of pars on the front nine just once with a birdie at the fifth. He bogeyed the the 10^th and knocked home birdie putts at the 14^th and 16^th for his victory.

Delport was equally impressive, but battled a balky putter throughout the round.

“Chris dropped shots at the third, 15^th and 18^th holes, but otherwise he was really solid,” Hendrikse said.

“He also struggled to get the putter going. We both hit our irons superbly, but the difference was that three of my putts dropped.

“Jock was in there all the way, too. He turned in four under and dropped just one shot coming down the straight. It was such a great experience playing with both these guys.”

The victory caps a remarkable season for the country’s number one ranked senior, who racked up five victories, including the North West Open just a fortnight ago.

“It’s been an amazing year for me,” Hendrikse said. “I’ve never hit the ball better, especially my long irons and my short game has been coming all nicely, until this week, that is.

“Irrespective, I could put myself within birdie distance throughout the tournament and I made too many two-putts to count to save par. It’s been an incredible week and having my wife, Angie, on the bag with me today made this victory especially memorable.”

Compiled by Lali Stander

Mellette Hendrikse, winner of the Indwe SA Senior Stroke Play Championship

HARTEBEESPOORT, 23 October 2014 – Chris Delport produced a magnificent eagle to vault into pole position with former champion Mellette Hendrikse, while three-time champion Jock Wellington was at his vintage best in the second round of the Indwe Risk Services SA Senior Amateur Stroke Play Championship on Thursday.

Hendrikse, the champion in 2012, birdied all four par fives at Pecanwood Country Club for a 70 to set the clubhouse target at six-under-par 138.

Delport reeled in birdies at the fourth and fifth holes on his back nine before knocking in a foot-long putt for eagle at the par-five seventh for 69 and a share of the A-Section lead.

Wellington, meanwhile, offset two bogeys with three birdies and vaulted within two shots of pacesetters after he holed out at the par-three 13^th.

The 63-year-old, who won the prestigious national championship in 2001, 2006 and 2008, signed for a 69 to claim a share of third on four under with overnight leader, Johan Marais, who carded a 73.

Delport was relaxed about the prospect of taking on Gauteng North stablemate Hendrikse, who came into the championship on the back of his fifth victory this season.

“As far as I am concerned, Mellette is the tournament favourite and all the pressure is on him,” the 54-year-old Zwartkops player said.

“I once played a league match against a young Rory Sabbatini. I told him: ‘Youngster, if you beat me today, all the guys will say hard luck, but if I beat you, they will call it major upset’.

“It’s the same for Mellette. His game is rock solid at the moment. I had one bad shot at the third, where I thought I took a nine-iron and smashed a seven-iron into the houses. Otherwise I had a great day out there. You never know what will happen on the day.”

Hendrikse was two off the pace after two rounds last year, but his title defence was derailed when organisers were forced to call a 36-hole tournament due adverse weather conditions at Fancourt.

The 54-year-old Akasia golfer has dominated the senior amateur circuit this season, but is cautious ahead of the final round.

“I’m striking the ball very well, but the putter went ice-cold on me out there,” he said. “I was hitting my irons close, but I just couldn’t sink a putt. It was just one of those days, I guess. I may have to stick the putter in oven before we tee off tomorrow.”

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Chris Delport in contention at the Senior Champs

HARTEBEESPOORT, 23 October 2014 – Gauteng North’s Mellette Hendrikse finishes within striking distance of first round leader Johan Marais when the A-Division completed the first round of the weather-struck Indwe Risk Services South African Senior Amateur Stroke Play Championship this morning.

Marais from Southern Cape opened with five-under-par 67 at Pecanwood Country Club, but inclement weather in the late afternoon forced organisers to suspend play for the day.

Former champion Hendrikse trailed by one at the time of the suspension and completed the 18^th hole this morning to sign for a four under 68.

Fellow Gauteng North senior Chris Delport closed with a 69 to finish one stroke clear of Western Province’s Brian Mampies and Robin Ashby of Gauteng North.

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HARTEBEESPOORT, 20 October 2014 – Jock Wellington is targeting a return to his winning ways in the Indwe Risk Services South African Senior Amateur Stroke Play Championship next week.
The three-time champion believes his game is solid enough to challenge at Pecanwood Golf and Country Estate, but Wellington is doubtful that it will hold up against hot favourite, Mellette Hendrikse.

Mellette won five times this season, came second three times and racked up eight top 10 finishes.

He tops the rankings and is odds on the hot favourite, especially after the North West Senior Open victory a week ago.
“Pecanwood has some great bunkering, but the long hitters will just bomb it away because the fairways are so wide,” said Wellington.

“The shorter hitters like myself will have to rely on accuracy and a solid short game and hope the slopey greens will level things out. Mellette has been putting really well and that makes him someone to look out for.”

Defending champion Gavin van Aswegen, who has been nursing a torn calf muscle back to health, agreed.

“I’m excited to take up my title defence, but I’m going in with low expectations,” he said.

“If you ask me to pick a winner right now, I’ll go with Mellette and it’s not just about this season. He went to Fancourt as the defending champion, but the weather forced a 36-hole result.

“I was leading Mellette by one going into the final round and I imagine he must have felt hard done by.”

The man of the moment is forthright about his intentions at the superbly manicured Jack Nicklaus layout.

“I’m confident and I want to win this year,” the 54-year old Gauteng North golfer said.

There is no point in being bashful about it. I’m hitting the ball well and I’m putting well.

“I think a solid short game will be crucial. The course is pretty wide, but the greens are undulating. You need to know where you are going off the tee and you need to pick your spots to score.”

Hendrikse might be the odds on favourite, but he believes a number of golfers could do well.

“It’s a compliment to be tipped to win, but there are a lot of strong seniors in the field this year,” he said
Francois le Roux from Province was in contention last year and will be hunting his first win.

Basil Naidoo and Morgan Philips from KwaZulu-Natal cannot be discounted and neither can the experienced pair of Lawrence Franklin and Jock Wellington.

David Konzani from Eastern Province, Schalk Nadue and Ramon Rahme have all had solid seasons, too. Two-time winner this season, Dirk van der Merwe, Adrian Kriel, Tony Bailey, Lynton Beckett, Steve Cullen and former Senior chairman, Tim Hewan, are also among the other 2014 champions lining up in the senior amateur circuit’s flagship from 22-24 October.
“We have a very strong field competing in the A-Division this year and it promises to be a very exciting championship,” said Peter Olyott, Managing Director at Indwe.

“We are delighted to provide this national platform for our country’s leading seniors. The high level of competition that exists on the senior and super senior circuits is remarkable and this year’s championship promises to once again deliver a feast of high quality golf.” concludes Olyott.

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Mellette Hendrikse, the number one ranked Senior Amateur

MIDDELBURG (17 October 2014) – Pieter Cooper and Louis Jonck gave Gauteng North manager Eddie Roux two reasons to cry for joy when the pair boxed the crucial putts that sealed the side’s B-Section promotion in the South African Mid-Amateur Inter-Provincial at Middelburg Country Club on Friday.

“We held a 2.5 – 1.5 lead over Mpumalanga after the Foursomes, but they came back at us in the Singles and the match went right down to the last putt,” said Roux.

Phillip Croukamp and Gustav Verster took Gauteng North’s tally to 4.5 with early wins, but Mpumalanga attacked and won three quick Singles in succession to close the gap.

Teddy Mathebula defeated Martin Kraft 5&4, Philip Heyns won 1-up and Steve Smit triumphed 3&2.

After Kelso Hannay went 2-down to Jasper van der Westhuizen, Roux sent a message to Jonck and Cooper that it was time to step up and deliver.

“Louis beat Eddie Daniel 2-up to square the match,” Roux said.

“Pieter hooked his drive into a bunker, but he fired a miraculous trap shot to 10 feet and knocked in the putt to beat Jaco Buitendag 1-up and seal it for us.

“My heart nearly stopped a few times, but this was without a doubt the most amazing week of my golf career. Every man on the team played with pride for their province and for each other.

“These players showed incredible depth of character to fight back every time they got knocked down.  They showed great courage under fire and I am incredibly proud of what they achieved.”

Gauteng North won the prestigious team championship at Irene Country Club in 2009, but was bumped back to the B-Section just 12 months later in Worcester.

“It has been a long and hard battle to get back into the A-Section,” Roux said.

“Now that we’ve finally done it, I can promise you, they won’t get rid of us in a hurry.

The gracious captain and his charges spared a thought for the host union, who led the standings going into the final round and looked set to take a home victory.

“We have to applaud the Mpumalanga team’s fighting spirit,” Roux said.

“We are celebrating, but we know what a tough break it is for our opponents. They fought with great determination and spirit and must be hurting right now. We salute them as fantastic opponents.”

B-Section Results

Gauteng North 6.5 vs Mpumalanga 5.5

Free State 8.5 vs Border 3.5

Boland 8 vs Southern Cape 4

Final B-Section Log

(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)

1 Gauteng North (6, 5, 1, 0, 11, 47.0)

2 Mpumalanga (6, 5, 0, 1, 10, 44.5)

3 Free State (6, 4, 0, 2, 8, 38.5)

4 Boland (6, 3, 0, 3, 6, 39.5)

5 Southern Cape (6, 2, 1, 3, 5, 34.5)

6 Border (6, 1, 0, 5, 2, 27.5)

7 Limpopo (6, 0, 0, 6, 0, 20.5)

Compiled by Lali Stander

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