A rain disrupted Seniors Amateur Championship in London left many golfers dripping with disappointment.
One of whom was Victory Park resident and Randpark Golf Club member, Schalk Naudé. However, the 59-year-old did not blame his failure to make the third round on the weather, and actually left with some positives from the tournament.
Representing South Africa in a team of six amateur golfers above the age of 55, Naudé competed at the Sunningdale Golf Club from 9–11 August among a field of 144 players from around the world.
The rain came down in the middle of the first round and the course was closed. The break threw Naudé off his game.
“I only completed 16 holes on the first day and I would not say I gave up, but I definitely felt despondent,” said the Randpark member of 42 years, who had also played rugby for Transvaal and four Tests as a reserve for the Springboks. Naudé caught up on day two, finishing the first round 14 over par, and then rushing through the second round to finish a combined 19 over par.
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“A mistake I made was to believe the whole time that the top 60-player cut-off would be eight-over par, but it was 14, so I guess everybody struggled.”
He said a lesson learned was to not think that bad conditions only affected your own play.
Steven Williams was the only South African player to make the third-round cut and finished the championship tied second with two players behind the winner, Bryan Hughes from England.
Naudé said his approach shots let him down and playing through drizzle negated his strengths – chipping and putting. These are things he endeavours to work on before the SA Senior Open in Hermanus in October and before the next Seniors Amateur Championship next year.
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