IT wasn’t quite the Sunday stroll some may have expected for Malcolm Mitchell at the KwaZulu-Natal Closed at Kloof Country Club last Sunday,
But like Jordan Spieth at The Open at Royal Birkdale, he got the job done – despite it getting very close at a stage – and he was the one lifting the trophy at the end of the day.
Sure, it wasn’t the Claret Jug, but it’s not a stretch to suggest that Mitchell could one day, at the very least, play in an Open.
He hits it miles, has brought in the ability to apply caution when it’s necessary, and has a short game to kill for.
At Kloof, he had rounds of 65, 68, 66 and 66. That’s 15 under par around a track that has five par threes and three par fives.
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Mitchell, who is a member at Kloof, was made to work hard by Derek Scullard (Kwambonambi) who had rounds of 71, 67, 65 and 66.
At one point on Sunday “Scully” got to within one, but three-putted the 12th for a par, after driving the green, to lose momentum.
Another Kloof member, Dave Watson, showed the kind of game that could make him a candidate for higher honours next year.
He had rounds of 71, 69, 68 and 67 for third place, sneaking in ahead of Greg McKay (Mount Edgecombe CC) who had 71, 71, 68 and 69.
Gavin Sole (Southbroom) rounded out the top five with three rounds of 70 and a final one of 72.
Calvin Steinhobel (Bluff National) was sixth on +3 with Jason Broomhead (Durban CC) next on +5.
Siyanda Mwandla (Mount Edgecombe) overcame an appalling Saturday effort, by his very high standards, to reduce the damage.
The North Coast champion was +12 on day one, and then -5 for day two, so +7 overall, for eighth place.
Ninth spot went to Matthew Hands (Simbithi) on +8, followed by Lyall McNeill (Cotswold Downs) on +9.
Afterwards, the KZN team to play in the South African Interprovincial Tournament at Bryanston Country Club in Johannesburg from September 18 to 22 was chosen.
Sole is captain and the team comprises Broomhead, McKay, Mitchell, Mwandla and Scullard, as well as Clayton Mansfield and Matt Saulez, both of Durban CC.
Ivan Curlewis (Margate CC) is the manager.
Luke Mayo (Mount Edgecombe CC) is unavailable as he will be writing exams.
Louis Albertse (Dundee) did not play sufficient local tournaments to make himself eligible.
Even without these two players, both ranked in the top 21 in the country, it’s still a strong side, and one capable of an extremely rare away IPT win.
In terms of current national rankings, Saulez is third, Mitchell fourth, Mansfield 10th, Mwandla 14th, Mayo 18th, Albertse 21st, McKay 24th and Broomhead 37th.
Sole and Scullard have not played any events outside of KZN this year, and Broomhead only a limited few.
* The 2017 KwaZulu-Natal Mid-Amateur Champs, sponsored by The Golfers Club, will be played at Durban Country Club on Sunday, August 6.
It’s open to golfers aged 30 years and older. A-division (0-9) will play 36 holes strokeplay, with the B division (10 to 18) playing 36 holes Individual Stableford.
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