Willie and Sandile ‘up to the Challenge’
Nobody was able to win the Toyota Aygo for a hole-in-one on the 16th but it was close this year.
WILLIE Xolo and Sandile Khuzwayo may have won this year’s Halfway Toyota Margate Challenge, but one of the highlights was undoubtedly the opening shot hit by the Shelly Beach dealership’s dealer principal Brian Jones.
The three day event was played at Margate Country Club and attracted golfers from around the country. Once again, nobody could win the Toyota Aygo available for the first hole-in-one on the 16th.
Brian, the dealer principal, was a rugby player in his younger days as opposed to golf, and so was somewhat reluctant to hit the opening shot, especially as a crowd had gathered and the banter had begun in earnest.
“Are we safe here?” ventured Margate icon Ivan Curlewis as Brian started warming up.
Last year the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality mayor had the honour of hitting the opening shot. “At least she made solid contact with the ball,” said Brian, anxiously.
“Last time I played golf was about 35 years ago. I got the ‘Longest Walk’ and haven’t played since,” he laughed.
Finally, the moment arrived. He teed it up, shadows spilling across the tee box in a fashion not unlike Augusta National.
There may not have been a Green Jacket at stake, but it’s possible Brian was feeling more pressure than Sergio Garcia.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN : WATCH as Brian Jones’ opening tee shot gets Halfway Toyota Margate Challenge under way
Despite this, he took a reasonably long, surprisingly smooth (despite an initial ‘judder’) backswing.
The pivot was quite good, and then came a powerful leg drive as the arms followed through.
Had you only seen the swing, you could have been forgiven for thinking the ball flew down the fairway, some 280 metres or so.
Except it didn’t. Although there was much raucous applause, it seems the ball may have dived into a hedge not too far away.
“I was a bit worried about my car, to be honest,” laughed his son, Chris.
Whatever the case, Brian had done his bit and the tournament was under way!
Thursday:
1 Sbu Ntozakhe and Koko Zithumane 62 pts; 2 Alecia Hilt and Corjan Hilt 58 pts; 3 Elvis Khawula and Kumban Gengan 56 pts.
Nearest pins: Dean Goldhill (2nd), Heinrich Espach (4th), Willie Xolo (8th), Jack Venter (11th) and Tony Ford (16th).
Longest drives: Elsie Pretorius and Sandile Khuzwayo.
Friday:
1 Sandile Khuzwayo and Willie Xolo 58 pts; 2 Ulric Gous and Robert Mavundla 57 pts; 3 Wilna Olkers and Harold Olkers 54 pts.
Nearest pins: Mike Geiger (2nd), Wilna Olkers (4th), Koos Jacobs (8th), Gonnie Naidu (11th) and Alecia Hilt (16th).
Longest drive: Gina Venter and Sandile Khuzwayo.
Saturday:
1 Joan Minnaar and Elsie Pretorius 50 pts; 2 Willie Xolo and Sandile Khuzwayo 47 pts; 3 Flip Fourie and Fanie Terblanche 46 pts.
Nearest pins: Deon Meyer (2nd), Emmanuel Mseleku (4th), Flip Fourie (8th), Mike Geiger (11th), Emmanuel Mseleku (16th – coming closest to winning the Toyota Aygo for a hole-in-one).
Overall:
1 Willie Xolo and Sandile Khuzwayo 160 pts; 2 Joan Minnaar and Elsie Pretorius 156 pts; 3 Alecia Hilt and Corjan Hilt 155 pts; 4 Sbu Ntozakhe and Koko Zithumane 152 pts; 5 Elvis Khawula and Kumban Gengan 150 pts; 6 Ramesh Rajpal and Gonnie Naidu 147 pts.
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