Birdies and bogeys part of 55th Jock of the Bushveld in Mbombela

One of the largest and certainly most coveted golf tournaments, which teed off on Mbombela Golf Club’s greens last week, concluded on Saturday May 13.

The Subaru Southern Africa 55th Jock of the Bushveld Golf Tournament brought together members from numerous clubs all over the Lowveld and country, to enjoy the pristine condition of the course, and evidently, to try to get their hands on one of the most sought-after trophies in South African amateur golf.

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Seven competitions were played. To start things off, the NKP Consultants Jock Open was played on May 7, followed by the Rooikat better-ball Stableford, the Hi-Q Nelspruit individual Stableford, Bains Whisky and Coca-Cola gross Stableford, the Renasa medal Stableford, the Hino Mbombela medal Stableford and the SA Breweries Lowveld medal Stableford.

The first two days of the tournament saw thunderstorms and rain disrupting play. The Jock Open was reduced to 18 holes instead of 36. Rikus Nel of the Barberton Golf Club walked away with the trophy on conclusion of the opening day of the tournament, after managing seven birdies, nine pars and two bogeys. He finished with 66 gross.

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Justin van Dyk (71 gross) was the runner-up and Austin Mashego (72 gross) was in third.

On the second day, on Monday, the golfers played in a better-ball Stableford format (two scores to count). Players in the AM field had to endure non-stop downpours, having waterlogged greens and challenging fairways as a result.

It did not, however, deter Billy de Jager and John Welthagen, who scored a staggering 50 points. Hot on their heels were Neil Muller and Michiel Dippenaar (48 points) and Franchoa Giliomee and Johan Blom (46 points on count-out).

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Hi-Q Nelspruit was the sponsor of the third day. The players took to the field to compete in an individual Stableford format. The top three players for the front nine (1-9) and back nine holes (10-18) were awarded prizes. On the front nine, Morné van der Berg took first place with 22 points, and Odelia Sharp came in second with 20 points on count-out to Pierre de Bruin.

Alwyn Paul won the back nine (22 points), followed by Jacques Kruger with 19 points on count-out to Nico Cillie.

From day four onwards, the competition was played in a medal (stroke play) Stableford format. Day four was sponsored by Bains Whiskey and Coca-Cola. Wayne Enslin mastered the course in division A, winning with 39 points, and Jaco Potgieter was on his heels with 38 points. Giliomee came in third with 37 points on a count-out.

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In the B division, Duncan Morgan (41) was runner-up to Theo Naidoo (45) who took the honours. Duhan Swart returned to the clubhouse with a respectable 39 points.
Nidene Stapelberg was the lady of the day with 37 points to her name.

Day five, sponsored by Renasa, saw Kyle Murphy being awarded best gross with 74 points. The A and B divisions were won by Sarel du Plessis (36 points on count-out) and Herman Potgieter (40 points). Potgieter also managed a third place in the Jock Open on May 7.

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The last day of the tournament was proudly sponsored by SA Breweries. Justin van Staden (72) was awarded best gross, Brian Hogg (40) as the A division winner and Derick Botes (42 on count-out) the winner in the B division.

Rudolph Broderick won the order of merit award with an accumulation of 116 points, and was thus also the overall winner of the Subaru Southern Africa 55th Jock of the Bushveld Golf Tournament.

The Jills of the Jocks truly did the Spirit of the Jock Trophy proud.