TSHWANE (17 November 2014) – Pretoria amateur William Skinner is ready for another fast finish on the South African senior circuit after he romped to his first provincial victory at the second Otway Hayes Senior Classic at Zwartkop Country Club on Sunday.

The 54-year-old Gauteng North player fired a superb four-under-par 67 at his home course to win by four strokes on two-under-par 140.

Randpark’s Schalk Naude, who lifted the Ekurhuleni Senior Open title last week, finished second with rounds of 76 and 58, while Christo Reynecke from Lichtenburg Golf Club edged out local player Christie Le Roux for third on 146 with rounds of 71 and 75.

After coming close a few times this season, Skinner hoped the home course advantage would finally pay off, but thought he trailed by two strokes from Akasia’s Christie le Roux and Koro Creek’s Giel van Wyk after an opening two over 73.

“I didn’t play badly in the first round, but I just didn’t make any birdies,” Skinner said. “I had two bogeys and 16 pars. I knew I had to make some birdies in the final round if I wanted to challenge.”

The final round turned into a tightly contested affair with nearly 20 players within four shots of the lead contesting for glory.

Skinner threw his name in the hat with birdies at the first, third and fourth holes and improved his chances with birdie number four at the seventh.

He turned in four under and stumbled with bogeys at the 11^th and 14^th, but rallied down the home straight with birdies at the 16^th and 18^th to claim a breakthrough victory.

“We had a lot of rain overnight and the course was playing very long,” the GFG Academy player said. “I was striking the ball really well in the final round and I missed just one fairway. That made the difference.

“This is my first win since I started playing provincial golf four years ago. I’ve had a number of second place finishes, so I’m absolutely thrilled get the monkey off my back.”

Skinner represented Gauteng North at two Indwe SA Senior Inter-Provincials since he joined the senior amateur circuit in 2000.

“I was selected to the team this year, but I was unable to compete and I was really disappointed to miss the SA IPT,” he said. “This makes up for the SA IPT and hopefully I can carry this form into the weekend and finish the season on a really high note.”

Reigning Indwe Risk Services South African Senior Amateur Stroke Play champion, Mellette Hendrikse, will lead a field packed with 2014 champions in the season-finale Limpopo Senior Open at the Koro Creek Golf Estate from 22-23 November.

 

TOP 10 RESULTS

140 William Skinner 73 68

144 Schalk Naude: 76 68

145 Christo Reynecke 73 72

146 Christie le Roux: 71 75

147 Leon Scheepers: 79 68; Ben Kleynhans 74 73

148 Bruno van Eck 75 73; Etienne Groenewald 74 74; Jannie Schutte 74 74

149 Robin Ashby 75 74; Alex Anderson 75 74

Compiled by Lali Stander

 

11 November 2014 – Gauteng North Golf Union secretary Paul Davel is a man who goes about his business efficiently, quietly and with the minimum of fuss.

Not surprisingly, the electrical engineer employed the same approach when he joined 17 other delegates at Pretoria Country Club on Saturday to participate in the sixth R&A Level One Rules Course, presented by the South African Golf Association (SAGA).

The Irene Country Club captain was delighted that all the delegates passed the exam and pleasantly surprised to learn that he was the first participant to pass the course with full marks.

“When I heard that Gauteng North Golf Union would be hosting the Level One course, I decided it was time to get something official behind my name,” Davel said.

“I have served on the Gauteng North Golf Union executive for seven years and as tournament director for the Silver Salver and other tournaments. I figured that I picked up quite a lot about the rules during this time, but it’s a very nice confirmation that I really do know what I’m doing.

“The course was very well presented and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I think all golf administrators should complete the course, but even more so, any young golfer who wants to make golf his or her career, will definitely benefit from the course.

“To know the rules is to know what to do in any situation and it can not only save you shots, but protect you from disqualification or from unnecessary penalties.”

Susan Deysel was one of four ladies that attended the one-day entry level course, which forms part of the global R&A Working for Golf campaign and is the first phase of the R&A’s Three-tiered Rules Education Program.

“I am really just a social golfer, but as the chairperson for Junior Golf at the Gauteng North Golf Union, I felt compelled to attend the course,” Deysel said.

“I didn’t expect to enjoy myself so much, or to learn so much. The course was incredibly informative and very well presented. It was really unfortunate that the juniors were writing exams, because they would definitely benefit the most from understanding the basic rules and applications.”

The courses are being conducted by SAGA Assistant Executive Director, Neil Homann, who was extremely pleased with a 100% pass rate at Gauteng North Golf Union.

“To date, Boland, Border, Eastern Province, Ekurhuleni, Central Gauteng and Gauteng North Golf Unions have hosted courses and we plan to cover all 13 unions,” Homann said.

“Almost all of the nearly 200 attendees has passed the course and that is a very positive result. However, whether the delegates pass or fail, every attendee leaves us with a really good understanding of the basic rules and etiquette and can impart that knowledge at their clubs.

“The course offers us a wonderful opportunity to draw more people to the game and it is very encouraging that nearly all the Level One course attendees have indicated that they want to do the Level Two course, as well.”

 

Compiled by Lali Stander and edited by R de Beer

 

Please tell us a little about how and where you began playing golf, and clubs you have been a member of.

I was given an old set of Slazenger clubs by my late father-in-law and I started playing at Nigel Golf Club, which I joined in 1978. I moved to Rustenburg in 1985 and later joined Mooinooi Golf Club, followed by Sandy Lane Golf Club. I am currently a member of Akasia Country Club.

 

Where did your journey into the administration of the game begin, and how did you end up holding the most important post at Gauteng North Golf Union?

The “committee” bug bit me early on and I have been on various committees since 1979. I first got involved managing the scratch league side in Rustenburg and was elected onto the Western Transvaal Golf Association in 1989. Eddie Luckhoff was the president and I remained a member of the executive until 1998. During my tenure, I was also fortunate enough to be elected to serve on the Transvaal Golf Union. In 2004, I was co-opted to the Gauteng North Golf Union after the passing of Mike Cheyne.

Following the resignation of Paul Jenkinson, I was elected president at 05h45 on the morning of 30^th January 2010 at the start of the GNGU Open Stroke Play Championship at Wingate Park and it has been an amazing journey since then.

 

What goals do you hope to achieve during your tenure as President?

The goals that I set for myself are quite simple. First and foremost, I would like to serve and foster the game of golf to the best of my abilities and to serve the members of GNGU in the best possible way. I hope to grow the game at all levels and take it to those that are less privileged than us.

 

Looking back at when you started, what does the Union’s ‘report card’ look like?

I believe that we have succeed in achieving many of the goals that we set for the Union and my own personal targets. We started a Caddie league that is run very successfully by our Golf Ops Manager Mellette Hendrikse.

The incorporation of Junior Golf into the Union was achieved with the minimum of hassle and is being run very professionally by our Junior Sub Committee. I believe that we are attending to all the needs of our members and we have good relationships with our member clubs.

The Union is in a sound financial situation. I am very blessed to have a great working and participating Executive Committee and I am very positive about our way forward.

 

What do you see as the most important goals for golf in South Africa going forward?

I would think that the national goals would be much the same as those that we set for GNGU. To foster and grow the game among all South Africans, to be honest and transparent in what we do and above all not to put the administrators in the forefront, but to work for the benefit of each and every golfer out there.

 

What is the status in the merger between the women’s and men’s governing bodies?

Our Men and Women amalgamated as one union in 2005 under the leadership of Nolan Karp and we have been operating as such ever since then. Our Executive consists of 11 members, of which one is a Junior Representative and at least three have to be of the same gender. We are represented by Thea Nel at Womans Golf SA and by Mellette Hendrikse on the SAGA.

 

Go to club in your golf bag and why?

Seven-wood, because it gets you out of any bad lie

 

Best golfing memory?

The fondest memory of my career was winning the Premier SA Inter-Provincial in Rustenburg with a young and untested team

 

If you could change any rule of golf, what would it be and why?

The tapping down of spike marks on the green – it’s just a ridiculous rule

 

Which three people would you most like to play a round of golf with?

Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy en Matt Kutchar

 

Favourite golf courses in South Africa?

Umdoni Golf Club, Koro Creek Golf Estate, Zimbali Country Estate, Legends, which was designed by the world’s top golfers and Sandy Lane, where I live.

 

Compiled by Lali Stander

PORT ELIZABETH (3 November 2014) – Gauteng North’s Hendrikus Stoop might want to consider buying some real estate in the Eastern Cape after claiming his second provincial title this season in this region.

Seven months after Stoop stepped into the winner’s circle at the EP Border Srixon / Cleveland Stroke Play Championship at Port Elizabeth Golf Club for the first time, he claimed his second provincial title at the Eastern Province Srixon / Cleveland Stroke Play on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Centurion golfer braved a two-to-three club wind and intermittent rain at the magnificent Humewood Links on Saturday and posted rounds of 71 and 74 to finish four strokes behind local favourite, Sieg Human. He erased the deficit with a five-under-par 67 in the final round and claim a two stroke victory over Southern Cape’s Jade Buitendag.

“I guess I’m two for two in the Eastern Cape now,” said the TuksSport Golf Academy player.

“The great thing about this win is that I jumped from eighth to sixth in the Open Amateur rankings, so I am another step closer to qualifying for South African Open Championship at Glendower.

“Sieg had a four stroke lead and I didn’t think he could lose. To be honest, I was really playing for a second or third place through the first nine holes, so this is a really great result for me.”

Stoop began his assault with a pair of birdies at the fourth and fifth holes. After Human bogeyed the ninth and 10^th holes, he overhauled the 36-hole pacesetter with back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth holes to take pole position.

Although he bogeyed the 12^th after his tee shot caught the lip of a fairway bunker, Stoop rallied with a birdie at the next hole to keep control.

“I think that was the first time I came up for air,” the Gauteng North golfer said. “I knocked in par-putts up to the 18^th, but my wariness caught up with me on the green.

“I finished on below the slope and had a very long putt that broke left to right first, then right to left. I got it through the first break on line, but it stopped four feet short of the hole. I didn’t hit the second putt hard enough and it slam on the brakes right on the edge of the hole. One more roll and it would’ve been a par.”
The bogey was good enough, though, to guarantee Stoop’s podium finish on four under 212.

“One of my goals was to qualify for the SA Open next year,” he said. “I’ve always dreamt of playing in the SA Open. If I can keep this consistency going and take a couple of top five finishes in the next couple of tournaments, I might just make the field in January.

“It’s good to win another big one. I think you always wonder if your breakthrough win was a fluke, but I know I didn’t just get lucky in Port Elizabeth. I really had to work for this one and I did it.”

Compiled by Lali Stander

Over the last 10 months, Gauteng North’s JP Cooper has quietly worked his way to the number three spot in the South African Golf Association’s Junior Rankings.

The 17-year-old Wingate Park player launched his hike in the standings with a runner-up finish at the Nomads Order of Merit Coastal tournament at Royal Durban Country Club in January.

He kept his ascendancy going with a tie for sixth in the Nomads SA Boys U-19 Stroke Play Championship at Umhlali Country Club in April.

Having qualified for the match play, Cooper eliminated Albert Venter and fellow Gauteng North golfers Rosswell Sinclair and Keegan de Lange to reach the semi-finals, but lost 1-down to eventual Nomads SA Boys U-19 Match Play champion, Paul Boshoff.

Cooper once again underlined his growing stature with a fifth place finish in the Nomads SA Boys U-17 Championship at Polokwane Golf Club, followed by top 15 finishes in the North and South Championship at Kempton Park Golf Club and the Nomads Order of Merit Inland tournament at Silver Lakes in July.

In early October, the Pretoria golfer and Boland’s Herman Loubser represented South Africa in the Boys U-14-17 category in the Minsheng Beijing Junior Open at the Tian’ An Golf Club in Beijing, China.

The prestigious championship that pitted youths from South Africa, the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and Malaysia against the top junior golfers in China.

Although Cooper battled with his swing, he still finished a credible 12^th with rounds of 79, 76 and 75.

 

Vital stats:

 

Full Names:       Juan-Pierre Cooper

Birth Date:        18/08/1997

Birth place:       Rustenburg

Residence:        Moreleta Park, Pretoria

Golf Club:         Wingate Park Country Club

Handicap:         +1

Ranking:           SAGA Junior: 3

 

Q: Tell us something most people don’t know about you.

JP: Golf is my passion, but I also play hockey for my school and I used to be quite a good cross country runner.

 

Q: What is your most treasured golf memory this season?

JP: Tying for first after an opening 69 and going into a play-off against Jovan Rebula, who was the current SA number one, in my first Nomads National Order of Merit tournament.

 

Q: Is there anything you are addicted to or can’t live without?

JP: My family and my friends, especially my dad. They support me and provide love and care, even through the crazy teenage times.

 

Q: Do you think the future of South African golf is in good hands?

JP: Yes absolutely. With the way SA Junior golf has expanded over the last couple of years, there is no doubt in my mind that the juniors will move mountains in the future!

 

Q: What did you want to be as a youngster?

JP:  All I can remember is that from the age of eight, I grew up working towards breaking the records of my idol, Jack Nicklaus.

 

Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses of your game and what still needs attention?

JP: My strengths at the moment are definitely my short game, wedges and driver. I aim to get the ball in below a 100m, so that I can use my strong short game to score. My weakness is my long irons, because of my low ball flight.

 

Q: Where and how did you start of your golfing career?

JP:  I started playing golf with my dad, Pieter, in the afternoons at Rustenburg Golf Club. I finally realised golf was my game when I won the Handicap Knock out on the age of 11. That day I knew the apple did not fall far from the tree, because my dad is a former pro golfer and my mentor.

 

Q: What advice would you give youngsters just starting in the game?

JP: Have fun playing the game with your friends. Friendly competition always motivates you and your game

 

Q: What are your biggest fears?

JP: I was in a car accident two years ago and feel so blessed with my recovery. My biggest fear after that day is that feeling that if it went wrong I would not have been able to carry on competing. My biggest fear is being unable to compete.

 

Q: If a song was played at the first tee, what song would be played for you?

JP: The song I enjoy before a round Alvaro Joey Dale’s “Ready for Action”. It really gets me in the zone, so that’s the song I’ll pick for the first tee

 

Q: And, if they made a movie about your life, which actor would you choose to play you?

JP: Jason Statham. He does movies with action and romance, so he should fit the part!

 

Q: If golf was no longer an option, what other profession would you choose?

JP: I would go sailing. It’s an adventure. You travel and see the world through your own eyes, not on a screen

 

Q: Tell us something you hate doing.

JP: I hate postponing things when I scheduled for that day, because it always comes back and bites me

 

Q: What movie do you watch again and again and why?

JP: Facing The Giants, it proved to me no matter what u are doing no problem is too big if u trust in yourself!

 

Q: If you were stranded on an island and could have just three things, what would they be and why?

JP: A pop-up house, one of my close girlfriends, and lots and lots of food!

 

Q: What is the most pressure you’ve ever felt in tournament golf?

JP: playing my first playoff for my school in the final!  It might not have been my biggest tournament, but it was very important, because I had to finish our TEAMS effort for the year!

 

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

JP: My Dad told me once no matter where u are in life or how much u have accomplished always stay down to earth “humble”

 

Q: Name two things you consider yourself to be really good at and explain why.

JP: I am fairly good at getting myself out of trouble on both the course and off, mostly because of my way to trust in ability to lay up on the course with my wedges and I have always had a back-up plan.  I’m also fairly good in trusting myself it’s just the way I grew up, sometimes it costs me but mostly it’s rewarding

 

Q: In your opinion, what player has had the most influence on men’s professional golf?

JP: Rory Mcllroy at this stage many people look up to him …like me. He is the face of the new Tiger Woods at Nike and has big shoes and expectations to fill.

Q: Which three people would you pick for your Fantasy Fourball and why?

JP: Jack Nicklaus, Tiger woods and Rory Mcllroy, because these three men are the reason I am working so hard to find perfection in the magic of the game

 

Q: What is still on the bucket list for JP Cooper?

JP: I have always wanted to break Jack Nicklaus’ records. Also to swim dolphins and go sailing around all 115 islands in the Seychelles.

 

Q: Do you set yourself goals?

JP: Yes, definitely. Long term and short term, it helps monitor my progress and lets me know how much more effort I have to put in!

 

Q: You have been competing in some IGT Tour events between the SAGA national and provincial tournaments. What to do find to be the biggest difference between the two circuits and what are most difficult obstacles to overcome?

JP: The main difference between the amateurs and they pros are that the pros are playing for their bread and milk money; we juniors do not have that kind of pressure yet, thankfully. The biggest obstacle I think we have to overcome is knowing that there are no friends on the course when money is involved; only off the course, the pro golfers are there to enjoy themselves yes! But theystill have a job to do. Ernie Els once said the minute you close that glove nothing else matters….

 

Career Highlights

2010

Primary School Gauteng North schools team

 

2011

U-15 Quadrangular team; U-15 SA Boys

 

2012

U-15 Quadrangular team; U-15 SA Boys; U-17 SA Boys B side; U-17 Quadrangular team

 

2013

U-17 Quadrangular team; U-19 Quadrangular team; U-19 IPT Gauteng North; Gauteng North High School team; SA Schools team; SA Boys U-17; SA Boys U-19

 

2014

COASTAL NOOM T1; U-17 Junior IPT GN; U-19 Quadrangular team; U-19 IPT Gauteng North; SA Boys U-17; SA Boys U-19; SA team –Beijing, China; Challenge IPT

Compiled by Lali Stander

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

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