Mbombela golfer cracks top three at Lowveld Senior Open
After two days of hotly contested golf at the Lowveld Senior Open, Mbombela Golf Club member Stephan Potgieter was the only local to finish in the top three, with fellow Mbombela member Hylton Halfpenny managing to finish in the top 10 in sixth.
Mbombela Golf Club member Stephan Potgieter was the only local golfer able to secure a finish in the top three at this past weekend’s Lowveld Senior Open.
Playing on his home course, Potgieter started his weekend off in hot form on Saturday, having carded an opening round of 73. This put him in a share for the lead with Wingate Park Country Club member Gordon Wessels, and in with a shot at the title on Sunday morning.
The weather was sublime on both days, allowing for some great golf to be played and low scores to be carded. The second round sadly didn’t go as Potgieter would have hoped though, as he went six over par with a round of 77 to finish his weekend on seven over par. This put him out of contention.
Modderfontein Golf Club member Greg Gleeson, who carded an opening round 76, went two shots better on day two and moved his way into the top three. Potgieter and Gleeson ultimately finished tied third. Wessels had a far-from-ideal second round himself, shooting 76, leaving the door open for any able contenders.
The most ready to pounce on the opportunity was Terence van Straaten of the Kyalami Country Club, who had a first round he’d rather forget with a seven-over-par round of 78. But on day two, he came back with a vengeance and carded the best round of the tournament, shooting a level-par 71.
This meant he and Wessels were tied after 36 holes and would have to go to a play-off in a cross-Transkei battle. It only lasted one hole though, before Van Straaten ensured he would be taking the Lowveld Senior Open trophy back to Johannesburg.
The age to qualify for eligibility for the tournament is 50, and then within that is a secondary competition called the Super Senior division for players over 60.
They still compete in the regular competition, but are eligible for prizes in the Super Senior division as well. The Super Senior winner this year was Stephen Chewins from Modderfontein, who finished 12 over for the tournament.
While the only one in the top three, Potgieter wasn’t the only Mbombela local in the top 10. Hylton Halfpenny, also a Mbombela member, finished tied sixth on 11 over par. This makes the duo the only Lowveld golfers to crack the top 10, with the rest being from either Johannesburg or Pretoria.
