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Pienaar, Kiefer secure World Championship titles
Milnerton Golf Club, 31 March 2023: South Africa’s Charlene Pienaar became South Africa’s first femaleworld champion, while Canadian Kiefer Jones defended the title he won in Rome 2018 when both golfers emerged victorious in the 2023 ISPS Handa IBGA World Blind Championships at Milnerton Golf Club on Friday.
International breakthrough for Pienaar
A mere two days after she lifted the Women’s title in the South African Blind Open, Pienaar was in ascendancy again at the same venue – this time challenging for a first world-title in the B3 Division in the international tournament.
Sleeping on an overnight lead of six shots, the petite Benoni golfer withstood the challenge posed by a vicious South-westerly wind that battered the course for much of the final round and held off Austrian Karin Becker to prevail by five strokes.
“It is an amazing feeling to lift the trophy, especially after contending in this difficult wind. I am extremely thankful,” said Pienaar.
She hopes her victory will afford more disabled women the opportunity to play the game.
“I hope this victory will open up more doors, not only for myself, but for other younger players as well as for more women to participate globally.”
Jones completes successful title defence
Jones, the 2023 South African Blind Open champion, also doubled up in Cape Town, winning by eight strokes over John Eakin from England on Friday.
Leading by four strokes overnight, Jones endured a difficult start to his final round as he sandwiched double-bogeys at the second and fourth either side of a terrific par save at the third hole after short-siding himself right of the green.
A dropped shot at the seventh saw Jones turn in 41 before matching his outward nine coming home.
Jones remarked that Eakin’s performance helped galvanise his own play.
“My competitor put up a great fight. John played amazing today and made me want to push harder, so happy to get it done,” said Jones.
Jones lauded his South African guide, George Norman, saying the Milnerton Golf Club Caddie Master’s local knowledge of the tricky links layout was a significant contributing factor in his victory.
“Having a guy like George tell me little secrets about the course – explaining how the wind works for example, it sometimes feels like it is going a certain direction but plays the other way and I think that was a defining factor.
“I’m looking forward to playing another SA Blind Open one day and having the opportunity to explore more of this lovely country.”
Gilford grans maiden blind title
England’s Andy Gilford completed an emotional triumph in the B2 Division with a resounding 14-stroke triumph over American Tyler Cashman.
The Ham Manor Golf Club member suffered periodic setbacks with three triple-bogeys during the course, but a pair of red numbers at the sixth and 16th kept him in pole position. His nearest challengers had difficulties of their own, which alleviated any real pressure he may have been feeling.
The special nature of Gilford’s victory was two-fold.
He had participated in blind golf events for the better part of 25 years without having ever tasted victory and, fittingly, his wife Melanie served as his guide at this event and shared in this fantastic moment.
“I lost my sight as a child and golf gave me the confidence to beat my barriers. I hope that with this victory, I can inspire young people and children in a similar position to myself to conquer their circumstances,” Gilford said.
De Miguel earns come-from-behind victory
The third player to double up in South Africa was Alejandro de Miguel, who followed his B1 victory in the national championship with success in the global tournament. The Spaniard overturned a six-shot deficit in the final round to prevail by 10 shots over overnight leader Zohar Sharon from Israel.
“I’ve played many Opens, but this is my first experience of the World Championship, so I am extremely to have won this title and to have flown my country’s flag with pride here in South Africa.
While both players had a tough time of it, De Miguel ultimately handled the challenging conditions better of the two en route to victory.
Photos: Nic Bothma
B3 DIVISION – WOMEN
215 Charlene Pienaar 101 114
220 Karin Becker AUT 106 114
255 Ros Weir ENG 126 129
B3 DIVISION – MEN
163 Kiefer Jones CAN 80 83
171 John Eakin ENG 84 87
187 Paul McKenzie AUS 87 100
192 Jason Bastable ENG 100 92
200 Ernst Conradie 99 101; Darren Douma CAN 90 110
205 Wally Roode IRL 105 100
208 Leon Strydom 99 109
211 Patrick Morgan IRL 105 106
220 Andrew Patterson AUS 110 110
221 Morne Els 103 118
225 Kevin Frost CAN 108 117
234 Manie Blom 101 133
235 Henri Therrien CAN 124 111
238 Lambert Badenhorst 122 116
240 Cameron Reid AUS 120 120
255 Hugh Montgomery CAN 120 135
B2 DIVISION – MEN
177 Andy Gilford ENG 85 92
191 Tyler Cashman USA 91 100
196 Garrett Slattery 98 98
202 Steve Beevers ENG 97 105
206 Marc Oller ESP 104 102
208 In Chan Cho KOR 98 110
217 Gerhard Bergant AUT 105 112
224 Owen Robinson ENG 114 110
225 Malcolm Elrick ESP 114 111
237 Andy Sellars ENG 111 126
240 William Mathis USA 129 111
250 Graham Coulton AUS 131 119
253 Johan Kotze 117 136
259 Danny Daniels ENG 125 134
DQ Paul McCormack USA DQ
B2 DIVISION – WOMEN
251 Jan Dinsdale IRL 127 124
B1 DIVISION – MEN
235 Alejandro De Miguel ESP 118 117
245 Zohar Sharon ISR 112 133
274 Dong Sik Im KOR 149 125
277 Mario Tobia USA 133 144
313 Ronald Boef NED 166 147
NET – MEN
151 John Eakin ENG 74 77
154 Garrett Slattery 77 77
155 Andy Gilford ENG 74 81
158 Jason Bastable ENG 83 75; Ernst Conradie 78 80
160 Andrew Patterson AUS 80 80
161 Kiefer Jones CAN 79 82
164 Leon Strydom 77 87
168 Owen Robinson ENG 86 82; Marc Oller ESP 85 83
169 Gerhard Bergant AUT 81 88; Paul McKenzie AUS 78 91
171 Tyler Cashman USA 81 90
172 Graham Coulton AUS 92 80; Darren Douma CAN 76 96
173 Wally Roode IRL 89 84; Alejandro De Miguel ESP 87 86; Patrick Morgan IRL 86 87
177 Malcolm Elrick ESP 90 87
179 Morne Els 82 97
180 Steve Beevers ENG 86 94
182 Cameron Reid AUS 91 91
186 In Chan Cho KOR 87 99
189 Henri Therrien CAN 101 88; Kevin Frost CAN 90 99; Danny Daniels ENG 90 99; Andy Sellars ENG 87 102
190 Manie Blom 79 111
196 Lambert Badenhorst 101 95
199 Johan Kotze 90 109
201 Zohar Sharon ISR 90 111
202 William Mathis USA 110 92
213 Mario Tobia USA 101 112
217 Hugh Montgomery CAN 101 116
218 Dong Sik Im KOR 121 97
275 Ronald Boef NED 147 128
DQ Paul McCormack USA DQ DQ
NET – WOMEN
164 Karin Becker AUT 78 86
165 Jan Dinsdale IRL 84 81
171 Charlene Pienaar 79 92
173 Ros Weir ENG 85 88
