NOT even an early morning migraine could prevent Gavin Sole (45) from winning the Southern KwaZulu-Natal Open at Southbroom Golf Club last Sunday.
It may have been nerves. The Big Fish has always said he feels the most pressure playing a tournament at home as he feels he is expected to win.
Or it could have been as a result of a party he attended the previous evening.
Whatever the case, it didn’t appear to affect his golf much and he shot 69 and 72 to win by four from Jason Broomhead of Durban Country Club.
With the rain staying away, conditions were perfect. At first. Then the dreaded south-westerly wind swept in.
It’s the wind that strikes fear into players’ hearts. The 3rd hole in particular is a nervy experience, even for a player of Sole’s quality.
“I’m always glad to get past there intact,” he said.
The hole that gave him the most trouble was the par three 8th, where he found water in the morning round and made a double bogey.
Other than that he was his usual solid self. He said his short game was key to his win.
“I got up-and-down eight times of the 11 greens I missed during the day. I’ve been working hard on my chipping and short game, so that helped. Putting was rusty but I got it around,” he said.
Broomhead narrowed the lead at one stage in the afternoon, but could never get quite close enough to put real pressure on.
Once his matric exams are out of the way he will be able to focus more on his golf, and should be one to watch next year.
Graham Dickinson (Maritzburg Golf Club) was also in the mix at times, especially after a morning 71, but he couldn’t quite keep it going and had an afternoon 76.
Sean Baker (Kokstad) made an afternoon charge and was three under standing on the 12th tee (and level for the day). But two quick double bogeys later and his charge was abruptly halted.
Sole has now won the tournament at least three times, with previous wins coming at Port Shepstone in 2009 and Selborne in 2013.
There were some lighter moments.
Waiting to tee off on the 1st, Maritzburg Golf Club’s grizzled veteran Darryl Trodd noticed the B division players zooming around in carts.
“I hate carts, they’re no good for golf,” he quipped, or words to that effect.
Two holes later, his second shot on the 3rd hole was pushed a touch wide. It bounced on a cart path, looped over a wall, and disappeared out of bounds.
To say ‘Troddy’ was less than amused with the offending cart path would be putting it mildly.
Best nett went to David Rush (75 and 72) off a three handicap, counting out Sizwe Mkhize (Papwa Sewgolum). Craig Viljoen (Durban CC) was third on nett 142.
Ganas Naicker of Umkomaas dominated in the B division, with scores of 39 points and 42 points to win by five from Wonderboy Nqoko (Drak Gardens) who had 37 and 39 points.
Muziwakhe Dlamini (Ethekweni) was third on 34 and 38 points.
Top 10: 141 Gavin Sole, 145 Jason Broomhead, 147 David Rush, 148 Graham Dickinson, 149 Sean Baker, 150 Liam McIlroy, Sebastian Terblanche, 152 Hammond Dlamini, Robert Mavundla, 153 Clint Harris, Graham Fabricius, Vusi Ntanzi.
