Zululand golfers savour sweet victory

IT has been a long time coming, but Zululand’s wait to again add its name to the KZN Country Districts Inter-zone golf trophy is over.

The last time Zululand won was at Richards Bay in 2008 when Rob Seiler was captain.

This time though, Rob was out of action after a recent back operation and had to watch the drama from the sidelines.

There was much exciting golf at Empangeni Country Club, and a lot of it produced by the hosts.

Matthew Kidd provided the coup de grace, holing a birdie putt across the 18th green to seal the win on Sunday.

Captain Graeme Johnson’s decision to play the younger players up the order was justified, with Kidd and Greg Smith producing some sparkling golf.

Kidd had a two under par 70 in the strokeplay on Friday morning, but couldn’t maintain this form and posted an afternoon 81 to finish second behind Zimbali’s Shane Douglas.

Number one Phil Barnes struggled a bit at first, but found some matchplay form when it mattered at the end.

Johnson was a rock at number four, a matchplay opponent as tough and resourceful as they come.

Zululand’s bottom order comprised Richard Allan, Ettienne Steenkamp, Kevin Jordan and Andre ‘Walkies’ Rautenbach, who must be one of the best number eights to be found anywhere.

‘Walkies’ had a nightmarish time preparing the course – the area hadn’t had much rain and the course had been bone dry.

Then 200mm dropped from the heavens with the result that the course played long and soft and the greens, not quite as quick as say, Augusta National.

The rough was gnarly and certainly tested the players’ strength. The suffocating heat tested their resolve.

Zululand’s only hiccup was against Northern Natal where a loss was recorded. The Zululand B team produced some decent results, with Lindani Xulu in particular very good in the matchplay.

The only disappointment perhaps was that Zululand did not get a player in the KZN team to play in the SACD tournament at Fish River in May.

Barnes was dropped, while Smith and Kidd will have attracted attention and could break through next year.

Final positions: Zululand, North Coast, Northern KZN, East Griqualand, Southern KZN, Zululand B, Midlands.

The KZN country districts team is – Corne van Deventer (captain – Vryheid), Sean Baker (Kokstad), Andrew Burmester (Umhlali), Altaaf Bux (Port Shepstone), Shane Douglas (Zimbali), Sipho Hlongwa (Ladysmith), Jan McDermott (Margate) and Steve Phytides (Zimbali).

Reserves are Brian Dougherty (Umhlali) and Phil le Roux (Southbroom).

Results

1 Zululand A 15 points

2 North Coast 11.5 points

3 Northern Natal 11 points

4 East Griqualand 8.5 points

5 Southern Natal 8.5 points

6 Zululand B 5 points

7 Midlands 3.5 points