Sean Baker returned to one of his happy hunting grounds – San Lameer Country Club – for the recent SA Seniors B division Interprovincial.
Although now based in George and playing for Southern Cape, he has strong South Coast connections.
He still holds membership at Margate CC where he is the current club champion.
In the past, while living in Kokstad, he played league for Southern KZN and San Lameer was used as a home venue for premier league games.
So, the popular player is almost considered a local.
On top of all this, he returns to play in the San Lameer Open in January when he can and won it a few years ago. (Yes, his good friend and multiple champion Gavin Sole was in the field that day!)
Sean has also played two Interzones (for East Griqualand) and an SACD Interprovincial at San Lameer in 2007, which KZN won, so the venue holds a special place in his heart.
As a quality iron player, San Lameer’s scenic, water-laden layout suits his game.
Sean had a pretty good week in the singles, playing at number four and winning four of his five games. The foursomes wasn’t quite as good, with only one win.
Unfortunately for Southern Cape, they lost out by the narrowest of margins possible.
They topped the log on nine points alongside Mpumalanga but had one less game point (42 to 41), and so the title and promotion back to the A division went to the Pumas.
It was a dramatic finish, with games in both matches going down the last hole.
Despite all this, Sean was upbeat. “The course was in exceptional condition, and the weather awesome, too,” he said.
“We had a great week, excellent team. It was a pity we fell short by a game point, but the team played really well. No doubt we will be back next year!”
Southern Cape did win the Super Seniors, followed by North West, Free State, Eastern Province, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.
Meanwhile, miles away at Sishen in the Northern Cape, it was Western Province who squeezed out traditional rivals Central Gauteng for the crown.
North West were third, with KZN rallying to take fourth place and very comfortably avoiding relegation. Not that it was a real concern.
Gauteng North won the Super Seniors, with KZN in fifth place.
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