YOUNG GUNS!
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Now that I am celebrating 20 years in South Africa, it is fair to say that I have seen a number of great young golfers come up through the ranks. Right after Pezula opened Ashleigh Simon arrived for a golf day with her dad and fashioned a little 76 or so around the course she was seeing for the first time. I think Ashleigh was about 12 or 13 when she showed me her tremendous “potential” (in my book, potential means you that you have potential talent, but haven’t done anything yet). I already knew that in her case, “potential” would soon be “fact”. I had a quiet word with her after the game because it was obvious to me that she was going to draw a lot of attention. My advice was to keep it fun…to never let her opponents see her nerves and to play every shot with a smile. As most of you know, she won everything as an amateur – from the National Amateur to a SA Ladies’ Tour title (including the SA OPEN Championship – 3 times). After turning Professional in 2007, she won again. Then she tried America and found it a bit rough. Well, fit as a fiddle and back in Europe, she tasted victory again…
• Ashleigh Simon won the ISPS Handa Portugal Ladies Open. Ashleigh had eight birdies during her final round 67 and finished three shots clear of the overnight leader, Gwladys Nocera. She finished on 16-under 200 total. Another South African with great potential, Stacy Bregman, finished in a tie for 6th place on 6-under.
Well done, Ash!
Back in 1997, when Thomas Aiken was about 13 or 14, he came to Simola with his parents and a number of other junior friends. We didn’t have a finished golf course because two flooding rains in November, 1996 put a halt to construction. But, on the 6-hole side, we had grass on the fairways, with shaped bunkers and greens – no sand in the bunkers or grass on the greens (we called them "browns" -so we became inventive). When the Aiken group arrived, we hit shots to the 2nd from the high tee above the fairway. As I recall, Thomas could drive the green then. From that day onwards, he, like Ashleigh, achieved great success as an amateur – named SA Amateur of the Year, in 2001. He turned Professional the following year, tried the Nationwide tour in America and returned golf in SA and Europe. Like, Ashleigh, Thomas found the going tough before winning a number of times on home soil. Two weeks ago, he made his mark in Europe, winning the Spanish Open! Click here to have a look on what else has achieved this year!
Well done, Thomas!
These two champions are champions off the course as well, by following their golfing forefathers in “character”. For as long as I have known them both, they will come across a room to say “HI”. Being respectful of others is a number one trait. Success on the tours may appear easy as so many of the South Africans have done so well. It’s not. For all who have achieved victory, so many more have fallen away.
Ryan has embarked on a local programme, funded by the SAGA to identify young talent. He has taken the necessary steps to secure the funding for the Links as one of only two destinations in the Eastern Cape. Working with Principal Coenraad from the Sea Vista school, Ryan has put together a team of boys go along with the young girls he is already working with. I watched as he took the young guys through their set-up and first swings…watch out Thomas – there are more young guns on the ways!
“balanced” finish!
Getting a grip
That's right
RAIN, RAIN, RAIN!
We have doubled the year’s rainfall in the month of May! Last week we received 108mm in a day and we have had another 60mm since – taking our rainfall total for the year to just more than 350mm. I think that is what Gauteng was getting a week for a while!
We have doubled the year’s rainfall in the month of May! Last week we received 108mm in a day and we have had another 60mm since – taking our rainfall total for the year to just more than 350mm. I think that is what Gauteng was getting a week for a while!
Upcoming Events:
Shield Group Golf Day Friday, 20 May (11am Shotgun Start for 90 players)
Club Championships Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 May
Member-Guest Friday, 27 May (Texas barbeque and “hoedown” to follow)
Nomads Monthly Game Sunday, 5 June (full field)
OPEN Wednesday Wednesday, June 8 (special rates)
BIG Six Challenge Friday, 10 June (bonus day on Saturday, June 11)
US OPEN Thursday-Sunday, June 16-19
The “Majors” Qualifier Saturday, June 18 (member event)
Good Luck Champions and future Champions!
Jeff
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