6 August 2015 – It was day of struggles, tough conditions and frustration for the four South African juniors competing in international championships in Sweden and Germany on Wednesday.

Ivanna Samu traded places with compatriot Kaleigh Telfer at the Annika Invitational Europe, while Woo-Ju Son slipped and Danielle du Toit continued to battle in the RB German Junior.

Samu from Ruimsig overtook Telfer to lead the home challenge with a 74 in the second round at Bro-Bålsta GolfKlubb. Continue reading →

5 August 2015 – Gauteng junior Woo-Ju Son finished within striking distance of pacesetter Nina Lang after first round action wrapped up in the RB German Junior in Germany on Tuesday, but for a second day running, Danielle du Toit’s round was interrupted by Mother Nature.

The Gauteng North golfer opened with a disappointing 85 at Golfclub Heidelberg, while Son carded a two-over-par 74 to tie for third with Alice Gotbring from Sweden and Norway’s Michelle Forsland.

The trio lag two shots behind local favourite Lang, who cancelled four bogeys with a quartet of birdies to take pole position on even par. Continue reading →

The finals were concluded the first Sunday in August. The Men contested their final at Services GC whilst the Ladies met at Waterkloof GC.

A gorgeous afternoon met the winners who made it to the regional finals. Each region in the country, in this case GNGU, contests a SANLAM Cancer day at each of the respective clubs. These winners, both men and women, in three divisions A, B and C get together at the regional finals in order to select the best of the best SANLAM Cancer participants. The winners of the respective regions through-out the country each receive an invitation to the SANLAM Cancer Finals held annually at Sun City.

This year the event is scheduled for 18 to 21 October and our representatives are the following:

Men

A Division – Johan Burger (5) Waterkloof GC

B Division – Gary Stone (14) Cullinan GC

C Division – Frans Petrus Janse van Vuuren (27) Pretoria CC

Women

A Division – Elize Visser (12) Centurion CC

B Division – Hannelie Huyser (23) Silver Lakes CC

C Division – Heleen Jacobs (26) Irene CC

We congratulate the winners and wish each of them the best of luck.

Rona Erasmus (Ladies Captain of PCC) and Nicole Hannah

The Champion of Champions is an invitation only tournament. If during the course of the year a player was able to win his or her Club Championship this person receives an automatic invitation to the tournament. This event features all the winners of the respective clubs in the GNGU at one venue trading blows.

The men and women play at different venues on the same day. Past Winners of the women’s trophy include, Connie Chen, Henriette Frylinck, Kim Williams, Marinda Pretorius, Crystal Cooper and Gina Switala. This year Nicole Hannah took home ground advantage at Pretoria Country Club and added her name to this illustrious list. Andrew van der Knaap seized the opportunity at Blue Valley Country Club to record his name in the history books, trophy and tree next to names like, Fichard, Lambert, Sterne, Ahlers, Coetzee, Timba, Frittelli and Zietsman.

Paul Davel and Andrew van der Knaap

The Champion of the Senior’s, B and C divisions of all the clubs is also invited. This year Mellette Hendrikse won the senior division with a stunning 6 under par. Christo Smit from Akasia CC won the B-Division whilst Blue Valley member Warwick Lombard took the honours in the C-Division. The ladies saw ML Grobler a Silver Lakes CC member as the senior division winner, whilst Naomi vom Hagen of Akasia CC and Susan Venter also from Silver Lakes CC were crowned as B and C division winners respectively.

Another noteworthy aspect of this tournament is the winner’s tree planted at Blue Valley CC. Four years ago, the GNGU Executive and Blue Valley CC decided that the men’s tournament would return to the club every year. Each year the GNGU donates a tree to the club with the winners name added to that specific tree. The Champion of Champions tree of commemoration can be found next to the 10^th tee box.

27 July 2015 – An exciting fortnight awaits Gauteng North’s Danielle du Toit and three other leading South African juniors Ivanna Samu, Kaleigh Telfer and Woo-Ju Son, who will make their debut in prestigious international championships in Europe this August.

Samu, the country’s leading junior, and number two ranked Telfer will compete in the annual Annika Invitational Europe in Sweden and the Girls’ British Amateur Open Championship in Scotland.

Son and Du Toit, respectively ranked third and seventh in the Womens Golf South Africa’s Junior Rankings, will line up in the Global Junior Golf Tour’s RB German Junior in Germany. Continue reading →

TSHWANE, 17 July 2015 – Otto van Buynder defeated fellow Gauteng North player Keegan McLachlan at the first play-off hole to lift the inaugural Tshwane Junior Open title on Friday.

The pair ended regulation play tied at four-over-par 148 after Van Buynder signed for a 78 and McLachlan carded a 77 at Pretoria Country Club.

Van Buynder produced a superb four at the par-four 10^th to seal his first national junior victory in extra time.

“I am absolutely thrilled that I got the job done,” said the elated TuksSport Golf Academy player.

McLachlan reached 18with a two shot lead over Van Buynder in regulation play, but squandered the advantage with a double-bogey.

Van Buynder responded with a well-timed six-iron into the green at the par-five and two-putted for birdie to force the play-off. Continue reading →

Tiaan Richter, Match-Play Champion

The annual GNGU Match-play championship has been won by Tiaan Richter. In the B-division Cleo Jordaan has been crowned winner.

The championship is started off by a thirty six hole Stroke-play championship. The top 8 eight finishers contest the in the A division, whilst the B division consists of the remaining best placed B division participants.

This year Duan Denner and Ruben Bakker entered the Championship in the B division, but played so well in the Stroke-play leg that they found themselves competing in the A division Match-play section. A phenomenal achievement in its own right. The Juniors contested on an Akasia CC track that was in a foul mood. With hard and fast greens and strong winds on the day only four scores under 80 were recorded. Two of these scores belong to Hawk Wolf who comfortably won the Stroke-play event.

After Tuesday’s Stroke-play event the top eight of each division congregated on Akasia CC’s 1^st and 10^th T’s at 06h57 on Wednesday. In the A division the results followed the form of the players, with the top 4 ranked players all beating the bottom 4 ranked players. In the B division Divan de Beer was responsible for the only upset by narrowly beating the top ranked Stephan Geyser 1up.

In the A division, Hawk Wolf after an easy 1^st round 7 and 6 win walked into an inspired Koketso Mokumo. Hawk eventually lost to the SAGDB member, but was particularly gracious in defeat and was full of praise for the Klipgat settlement resident. Tiaan Richter beat Braam Roux, who some believe may have been sporting a little school holiday “rust”.

Cleo Jordaan, B Div Match-Play winner

The B division was fiercely contested with the “friendly assassin” Cleo Jordaan beating Divan de Beer and Janco Breedt beating Jean Bodenstein.

The final of the Match-play would be contested over 36 holes on Thursday and by 07h02 the four finalists were on the 1^st putting green. Tiaan Richter kept his composure and his methodical approach to his game to eventually triumph over Koketso. He enlisted the help of his sister Jo-Lindie to do duty on the bag and it proved to be an inspired move.

Janco Breedt in the B division (who had an epic battle with Hannah Venter over 21 holes) squared up against Cleo who is sporting a rich vein of form. Janco’s birthday some two months ago forced him to move from the forward T’s to the normal men’s T’s. This distance difference was overcome by sheer willpower to make it into the final. Cleo would however not be deterred. Placing second in the recent NOMADS Girls tournament held at Orkney in her division and sporting a win in the GNGU Women’s Open Match-play B division, the Akasia CC member made it two from two.

An honourable mention has to go to Ivan Verster. This 11 year old made it to the final sixteen. He had to give away 5 strokes, did it with a spring in his step and conducted himself as a true gentleman. A great addition to our junior ranks. To all the parents who assisted, supported and encouraged, thank you. To Akasia CC for being such gracious hosts, its management and members, congratulations on a great event.

Tiaan, Koketso, Janco and Cleo