TSHWANE, 3 May 2016 – You have to look all the way to sixth place to find Herman van Wyk’s name after the foreign challengers – led by American Chad Pfeifer – took command in the second round of the Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open at Zwartkop Country Club on Tuesday.

Former US Army corporal Pfeifer went on a tear and blazed the course with nine birdies, but the leg-amputee from Texas gave back almost as many as he closed out a two-under-par 69 for a one stroke lead from former champion Josh Williams from Canada on one under 141. Continue reading →

TSHWANE, 2 May 2016 – It came as no surprise to see Chad Pfeifer’s name at the top of the leaderboard, but it was ‘John Daly-lookalike’ Herman van Wyk from North West who set the cat among the pigeons in round one of the 2016 Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open on Monday.

Two-time US National Amputee champion Pfeifer was among the favourites coming into the championship and the former US Army corporal lived up to his star billing with an opening one-over-par 72 at Zwartkop Country Club.

But instead of having defending champion Daniel Slabbert or two-time World One-Arm champion Reinard Schuhknecht in pursuit, Pfeifer has former champion Josh Williams from Canada and Van Wyk chasing his tail. Continue reading →

TSHWANE, 1 May 2016 – The arrival of well-known American pair Chad Pfeifer and Vince Biser at Zwartkop Country Club on Sunday morning sent a ripple of excitement through this year’s participants of the Nedbank SA Disabled Open.

Raylen de Wee from Lavender Hill and Carnavon’s Charles Williams caught a quick photo with the Yanks before setting off at a brisk pace to catch up with the rest of the First Swing Programmers for a practice round ahead of Monday’s first round. Continue reading →

TSHWANE, 30 April 2016 – Popular Afrikaans musician Mathys Roets and highly-rated former Border left-hand batsman Ralph Cullinan come from very diverse backgrounds, lead vastly different lives and don’t even speak the same language.

Yet, on the eve of their debut in the 2016 Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open, the pair discovered that they share more common ground than either imagined.

“Ralph and I were both paralysed in road accidents in 2009,” said Roets, who plays off a 28 handicap.

“At first you ask yourself ‘why me’, but soon enough you say what am I going to do with the rest of my life. There is no time to waste on negativity. We both set ourselves goals. Some we achieved with ease and others took a lot of blood sweat and tears. Continue reading →

TSHWANE, 28 April 2016 – South Africa’s Daniël Slabbert is primed to face a power-packed line-up of international stars as he takes a fifth stab at success in the Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open at Zwartkop Country Club from 2-4 May.

The defending champion will need to bring his A-game to stave off Americans Vince Biser and Chad Pfeiffer, Spanish stand-out Juan Postigo, Manuel de los Santos from the Dominican Republic and 2014 Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open champion Josh Williams from Canada, among others.

“Vince won the North American One-Armed Golfer Association Championship a record five times,” he said. “Chad is a two-time US National Amputee Championship winner and has been impressive on the Web.Com Tour. Continue reading →

CAPE TOWN, 27 April 2016 – In three days, teen golfer Simu Mdudu will board the first flight of his life and travel to Pretoria to debut in his first national golf tournament. The flight is exciting. Playing in the 18th Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open is a massive deal, but the prospect of lining up alongside the legendary Manuel de los Santos from the Dominican Republic at Zwartkop Country Club from 2-4 May has the 18-year-old leg amputee from the Western Cape bouncing in anticipation. Continue reading →

TSHWANE, 27 April 2016 – The only thing to do when victory keeps eluding you is to ‘try and try again’, says double World One-Arm champion Reinard Schuhknecht.

The towering Vanderbijlpark golfer is targeting the Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open as one of the most important titles on his schedule this season and will spearhead the home challenge in the 18th edition of SA disabled golf’s flagship event alongside four-time winner Daniel Slabbert at Zwartkop Country Club from 2-4 May. Continue reading →