Naude wins at Benoni Country Club
Seniors swing it out at the Ekurhuleni Senior Open.
Gauteng senior Schalk Naude claimed the weather-affected Ekurhuleni Senior Open at Benoni Country Club on Sunday, November 9, after organisers were forced to scrap the first round and reduce the tournament to 18 holes.
“The lightning storms and constant rain left the course unplayable on Saturday, so we knew the pressure was on to perform with only 18 holes to play,” said the champion.
The 56-year-old amateur from Randpark Country Club carded a one-under-par 71 and tied for the lead with ERMP’s Dave Jessup and Dirk Swanevelder at the end of regulation play.
“I dropped a shot at the seventh and turned one over, but I levelled the score with a birdie at the 10th,” Naude said.
“I boxed a 15-footer for birdie at the 14th, but dropped another shot at 15.
“I managed to square that one away with a birdie at the 16th and parred the last two holes.
“Dave and Dirk were both on 71, but we had to wait for Mellette Hendrikse to finish.
“He made six at the 18th for a 72, so at least I didn’t have him to worry about in the play-off.”
Naude walked off the par-five first in glory after his opponents both made six at the first extra hole.
“I hit a pretty good drive down the fairway and hit a solid three-wood for my approach,” Naude added.
“I had 60m to the pin and flew a lob-wedge to about five foot.
“The other two boys made it easy for me when they both bogeyed, so I just had to tidy up to seal the win.”
Results from the Ekurhuleni Senior Open: 1 Schalk Naude (Randpark Golf Club) 71 (play-off win), 2 David Jessup (ERPM Golf Club), Dirk Swanevelder (Woodhill Country Club) 71, 3 Errol Civin (Ebotse Golf Club), Mellette Hendrikse (Akasia Country Club), Gordon Wessels (Wingate Park Country Club) 72, 4 Morgan Phillips (Maritzburg Golf Club) 73, 5 Lawrence Franklin (Houghton Golf Club), Christo Reyneke (Lichtenburg Golf Club), Pieter de Bruto (Witbank), Jock Wellington (Kyalami Country Club) 74.
