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Country Club Johannesburg, 27 February 2024: The inaugural All Abilities Golf Tour supported by Nomads event, the Country Club Johannesburg Disabled Open, had it all: Weather delays, low scores, early starts and more low scores and, after 36 holes, four great champions.
Watts wins Physically-Disabled Medal
New year. New era for South African Disabled Golf. Same name atop the Physically-Disabled Medal leaderboard.
David Watts opened his AAGT season with a round of 77, mixing a Birdie-4 at 12 with Bogeys at the 2nd and 9th. An uncharacteristic Double-Bogey at the 14th preceded a second Weather Delay which ultimately brought the day’s play to a close.
After the resumption on the second morning, two bogeys on 17 and 18 saw the Durbanite fall two strokes behind Country Club Johannesburg Ambassador Kelvin Van Baalen after round one.
Watts, however, was a model of consistency in the second round, going out in one-under 35 courtesy of a Birdie at the 9th and eight Pars.
Watts’ winning inward half consisted of a Birdie at the 13th, Bogeys at 11 and 15 as the 37-year-old signed for a Level-Par 72.
Van Baalen meanwhile earned a share of 2nd-place with Daniel Slabbert after notching a second-round 78 while Slabbert posted a final round 73.
Watts put on a ball-striking clinic in the final round, hitting 15 of 18 greens en route to victory which he credited to placing a greater emphasis on his swing rather than score.
“The last few months I’ve been focusing more on my swing positions than score necessarily which helped me a great deal over the two rounds,” said Watts.
“Working with Muss Gammon recently has helped me improve and raise my floor in a sense, being able to score even when I’m not at my best which is great!”
Steenkamp clinches Physically-Disabled Stableford title
A second round of 38 points powered Roux Steenkamp’s Physically-Disabled Stableford victory as the arm-amputee earned a 7-point win over Nico Nel and Deon Van Niekerk.
A four-pointer at the 2nd and a quartet of three-pointers spearheaded Steenkamp’s effort and offset the damage of four one-pointers in a five-hole stretch from the 4th.
But Steenkamp righted the ship nicely down the stretch, carding two two-pointers in the final three holes to round off a fantastic two days and a 65-point 36-hole tally.
Imperious Williams wins Deaf Medal
Rounds of 84 and 87 saw Charles Williams complete a 21-stroke win in the Deaf Medal over Albano Dos Santos.
Williams had mixed fortunes over the front nine: Carding a round one 41 and round two 44 while he shot matching inward halves of 43 in both rounds.
Despite closing with two Bogeys over his final three holes, the result had long since been a foregone conclusion as Williams sounded an early warning that he’s a force to be reckoned with on the All Abilities Golf Tour.
Nkomo earns emphatic victory in Deaf Stableford
Sisa Nkomo was superb from start to finish: a second-nine 25-points in Round One was highlighted by a Four-pointer and six three-pointers.
Nkomo’s first-nine in Round 2 was littered with three-pointers, four in all, as he turned in 21 points.
It was only fitting that Nkomo finished with a flourish as he carded a four-pointer at the penultimate hole before a closing three-pointer, Nkomo once again illustrating what fine talent is emerging from the SADGA’s First Swing Program.
Photo: Sifiso Mdlalose
