MACDONALD WINS HIS FIRST EP SENIOR TITLE

Macdonald Dyafta from Motherwell Golf Club, won his first senior amateur title when he beat a strong field in the Eastern Province Senior Amateur closed strokeplay championship at the PE Golf Club on Sunday (February 15).  A total of 92 golfers from all over Eastern Province participated. The irritating (but welcome) rain did not hamper the play, as the scores reflected.

With places in the interprovincial team at stake in the penultimate order-of-merit event, the front-runners battled it out. Ian Moncur from Royal Port Alfred, Hermanus Potgieter from Kirkwood and Dyafta,  set the morning bench mark and produced the best morning score of 75, followed by Keith Simpson from Humewood on 76. A large group were one shot back on 77, including the defending champion, Ace Nqana.

The afternoon round was a hot race for the crown as the field chased the leaders with the favourites falling by the way as the rain dampened their spirits. The exciting finish saw Potgieter and Dyafta tied on 152 with both players carding 77 in the afternoon. A sudden death play-off forced the two along for three extra holes before Macdonald sank a good put for par to beat Hermanus who could not up and down his approach. Joe Wood from Walmer Country Club finished joint third with Sakkie Morrison from Uitenhage, Robert Watt from Humewood and the defending champion Nqana two shots back on 154.

Jackson Charles from Humewood Golf Club won the B division, with the PE Golf Clubs Colin Hilder winning the C division.

The top ten championships scores were: 

152 – M Dyafta (75,77) H Potgieter (75,77)

154 – J Wood (78,76), Z Nqana (77,77), S Morrison (79,75), R Watt (78,76)

155 – I Moncur (75,80) R Ross (77,78)            

156 – W Prince (77,79) F Kana (77,79)            

157 – A Glover (81,76) K Simpson (76,81)

159 – D de Kock (78,81) J Watts (79,80) K Booi (81,78)

160 – D Thornton (80,80)          

161– D Kilian (80,81) N Daniels(82,79)

162 – P Rossi (79,83) Furstenburg (79, 86)

163 – C Bartle (77,86)J Barnard (81,82)R Wallace (81,82)

 

Macdonald Dyafta on left, Jackson Charles in middle and Colin Hilder