Golfer makes history on the first live IGT challenge

Hennie O’Kennedy kicked off the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour with an impressive back nine performance to secure his maiden No 1 title during the first live broadcast of the challenge.

Hennie picked the perfect event to announce himself, as coverage of the final day’s action at CMR Golf Club in Maraisburg was streamed live on Facebook for the very first time. The IGT Challenge Tour provides players with the opportunity to experience all aspects of life as a true touring golf professional with a schedule built around geographical series and different varieties of championship golf courses to subject our players to any type of course they may face at golf’s highest levels.

“It is pretty special to be the first guy on the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour to have my win broadcast live, but it was crazy,” said the Stellenbosch resident.

He let one slip with a three-putt bogey on 11, but managed to get back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13, pulling three shots clear on 15-under.

“I hit a decent 2-iron on 12, but the tee shot stayed out and finished in the left rough,” he said. “I had a decent lie and was 145 metres out with the wind from the front and trees in the way. The pin was tucked in on the left and I pulled off a magic shot that landed three feet from the flag. That birdie was the kick I needed and I hit a great trap-shot on 13 to keep the momentum going,” added Hennie.

Hennie kept his cool while competing against some of the other top golfers.“The 16th is a driveable par four and I landed my tee shot six feet right of the pin. The eagle putt slipped by, but I tapped in for a birdie to clear three again,” he said. “The adrenaline was pumping on the last tee and I hit a huge drive. I had 150 metres to the flag and aimed a wedge to the middle of the green. I lagged it close and tapped in a birdie for the win.”

The victory moved him to eighth in the Race to Sunshine Tour standings.

“Cracking the Top 6 to gain my playing privileges for the Sunshine Tour next season has been the main goal this season, and I’m just two spots away. It’s within my grasp now,” he said.

He is slighter older than many of the rookies campaigning on the golf development circuit which provides a platform for young professionals to prepare for the big stage. He completed the three-year Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of South Africa course at Stellenbosch Golf Club through Swingfit and took an extra year to compete on the Golf RSA national amateur circuit before joining the pro ranks.

“It definitely prepared me better for life in the paid ranks. I’ve been working on strengthening my mental game and I talk quite a lot with Johnny Louw, who has taught me a lot about staying in the moment and believing in myself. He is a former policeman and drug addict who became a Christian motivational speaker. I can honestly say that today was all about my mind-set and my self-belief that I can win,” said Hennie.

The Top 3 ranked golfers on this money list at the end of the season will also gain playing privileges for the Sunshine Tour next season.

The Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour events are managed by IGT Challenge Tour commissioner Cois du Plooy and his staff. Du Plooy said the final round at CMR will definitely go down as one of the most exciting days in Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour history.\