Celebrating their 50th birthday Hans Merensky Hotel & Spa went all out. Firstly, the first 50 entrants received accommodation for free at the Hans Merensky Hotel & Spa and this got everyone interested.

The Hotel & Spa, together with the Golf Club Committee made sure that the players were treated to a special affair.

The Open was played over two days and in the first round, some old faces were making a charge. One of the participants, Niko Koster, shot a 75 to lead in the Clubhouse most of the day but it was another player, Franco Putter, who took the lead at the end of day one with a well-played 74 after an eagle at the par 5 16th hole. Putter, unfortunately, dropped a shot on the 18th. Neil Rathman, who started his round with 42 (+6) came back with a brilliant 34 (-2) on the difficult back nine.

Saturday night was accompanied by rugby on the big screen and there was a braai. Everyone had way too much to eat! The braai most definitely tasted better after the well-deserved Springbok victory over France.

Round two started early on Sunday morning and Malebane Pataki, local junior Janus van Rooyen together with Jannie Bronkhorst came in with lowest rounds of 36 shots. One by one the players came in but when Franco made birdie on the 16th, it was basically over.

Franco Putter won the Hand Merensky Open on a score of +3 on a very tough track with the whole Limpopo Mid-Am team chasing him down. He, however, kept his focus and composure. As for Jan Nel, President of the Limpopo Golf Union, quoted at prize-giving “Franco has proved himself as a “terrier” on numerous occasions for Limpopo, at IPT and Country Districts, and he is happy that Franco is in form going into the Limpopo Open.

Other main prizes were won by Neil Rathman A-Div. winner, Kobus van den Berg Senior Division winner, Jannie Bronkhorst Mid-Am Division winner, Janus van Rooyen Junior Division winner and Malebane Pataki overall Net Winner.

Jan Nel congratulates the Club for an Open that was run professionally and well organised.

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