ISPS Handa SA Open – 2019

 
SADGA is very proud of FSP golfer , 16 year old Jontey Kotze from Zwartkop Country Club who played in the Development division of the South African Blind Golf Association (SABGA) ISPS Handa SA Open – 2019. Jontey produced two excellent rounds of golf to become the youngest winner of this coveted category, ahead of the 2017 winner HP Lensley.
Jontey is coached by SADGA FSP Coach Justin Godfrey at Zwartkop Country Club with the support from the GNGU – Gauteng North Golf Union
morne Els, who is also coached by the SADGA FSP Coach, Carlo Kok together with the help of the Southern Cape Golf Union competed in the tournament and came 6th .
Well Done to the other Blind SADGA members who did very well in the Overall Gross:
1st Garrett Slattery from Stellenbosch Golf Club
3rd Manie Blom from Magalies Park
4th Charlene Pienaar (& 1st in Woman’s division) from ERPM GOLF CLUB
5th Ernst Conradie Glendower Golf Club
7th Leon Strydomd Zwartkop Country Club
8th Johan Kotze from Waterkloof Golf Club
Herewith the full report from Garrett Slattery from the South African Blind Golf Association (SABGA)
ISPS Handa SA Open – 2019
The 2019 ISPS Handa SA Blind Golf Open was staged at the challenging Glendower
Golf Club in Johannesburg in late September. We enjoyed the good weather typical in
Gauteng at this time of the year, although relatively strong winds added to the challenge.
Glendower Golf Club is an exquisitely designed, highly ranked parkland golf course in
Gauteng. Currently ranked #2 in South Africa and #1 in Gauteng. The course boasts
lovely kikuyu fairways with 64 bunkers, 27 on the front nine and 37 on the back nine
and water hazards on 11 of the 18 holes. Glendower’s par 72 layout truly offers a
challenge, with accuracy being the key to success.
The large undulating greens were in excellent condition. The exceptionally fast greens
made it very challenging for players who left their ball above the hole.
Glendower has hosted many prestigious events in its history, including 5 of the last 6
South African Open championships.
Although not the largest, it was potentially the strongest, field we have had in the SA
Open. In addition to the 5 South Africans who have Protea Colours, Garrett Slattery
(defending B2 champion), Ernst Conradie (defending B3 champion), Morne Els, Leon
Strydom and Johan Kotze, we had Charlene Pienaar (our top ranked woman golfer) as
well as overseas players in the form of Ronald Boef (a totally blind player from the
Netherlands) and Peter Osborne (from England).
Battling the challenging course, and the other golfers, the following players emerged as
the SA Champion golfers for the year (with total gross scores for the two rounds shown
in brackets):
B1: Ronal Boef (272)
B2: Garrett Slattery (194)
B3: Peter Osborne (196)
Ladies: Charlene Pienaar (223)
The net competition was won by Manie Blom (on a net score of 146), followed by
Garrett Slattery (148), peter Osborne (150) and Charlene Pienaar (151).
In the Development division 16 year old Jontey Kotze produced two excellent rounds
of golf to become the youngest winner of this coveted category, ahead of the 2017
winner HP Lensley.
Thanks
The SA Blind Golf Association would like to express our sincere thanks to all of those
people and organisations who provided financial and other support which made this
event possible.
Thanks too to Sandy Burnard (GM, Glendower Golf Club ), and her fantastic team from
management, the pro shop, catering, waiters and the invaluable caddies. We were made
to feel extremely welcome throughout the event.
Last, but by no means least, the players would like to thank the dedicated group of
guides and caddies who helped us navigate our way around the course. A special
mention must go to Jurie Mare as our longest-serving, and seemingly tireless, guide

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