Kirby clinches Mid-Am title at Southbroom
The pre-tournament favourite, Gavin Sole, didn't have things his own way.
Unheralded Sean Kirby (Kloof CC) was declared the winner of the recent KwaZulu-Natal Mid-Amateur Champs at Southbroom Golf Club.
The tournament was blighted by heavy rain and reduced to a stop-start 18 holes, with Sean returning a soaked 71 to clinch the title, much to his surprise.
Grant Olivier (Drak Gardens) was second on 72, followed by the pre-tournament favourite Gavin Sole on 74.
Gavin made life difficult for himself with a double bogey on the third hole. What made it worse was that he thought it was in play and so he had to trot back to the tee box. “Nearly made five,” he said, always seeing the positives.
Sean seems to have a particular fondness for Southbroom – in last November’s Southern KZN Open, he started with 71 before falling off the pace with an 85.
At one stage during the mid-am tournament, he was three under par, before a couple of three-putts in the rain which let him down.
“That was a little disappointing, but the course was playing really well considering all the rain,” he said.
Hopefully this will be the start of more ‘red-number’ golf for him.
Gavin echoed his sentiments, saying it was really tough. Others were less diplomatic, describing as some of the wettest weather they’d played in.
Top 12: Sean Kirby 71, Grant Olivier 72, Gavin Sole 74, Johan Buitendag 75, Robert Mavundla 75, Ashwin Krishen 76, Devesh Ramsaru 76, Jitesh Manohar 77, Kalvin Parsons 77, Matthew Sutherland 77, Jean-Marc Bouic 78, Bruce Marx 78.
The KZN Mid Amateur team was announced after the tournament.
They will play the Mid Am IPT at Devonvale in Boland from October 10 to 14.
It features five players from Southern KZN, a remarkable achievement.
The team comprises Ashwin Krishen (captain- Durban CC), Gavin Sole (Southbroom), Jan McDermott (Umdoni Park), Jean-Marc Bouic (Southbroom), Graham Dickinson (Maritzburg GC), Chris Zietsman (Selborne Park), Matthew Sutherland (Umdoni Park) and André Smit (Vryheid). Manager – Neil Champion.
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