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SA PGA Club Pros to Tackle Humewood links

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South Africa’s PGA club golf professionals are primed for a tilt at the Humewood links when the Port Elizabeth course hosts the Diners Club National Championship for the first time, starting on Monday (May 3).

It’s an exciting period for the club because the following week, from May 10 to 13, Humewood will be the scene for the first national Sunshine Seniors Tournament to be held at the venue.

But first the men’s and women’s club pros from across the country will be keen to make an impact as they duel it out for the national title, currently held by Stuart Smith.

Smith (not currently attached to a club) took the title with rounds of 68, 65 and 72 last year at Centurion Country Club after the tournament was postponed from May to November because of Covid-19.

While players from Gauteng and Western Cape are sure to figure among the leaderboard contenders, there will be much interest in the local pros, with Graeme van der Nest (The Pro Shop PE), Matthew Thompson (Wedgewood), Wiele Rademeyer (Humewood) and Thinus Keller (St Francis Links) all in the field.

Humewood general manager Brendon Timm says they are delighted to host an event which has traditionally been held in Gauteng and expects a competitive tournament.

“It’s an honour to host an event of this stature as we are excited to showcase the only true links in Africa to PGA members from around the country,” he said.

“This creates good exposure and could lead to many more members from their clubs heading down to play our coastal course.

“All PGA members have a competitive desire in them and this event gives them a chance to reignite their passion for the game, testing themselves against their fellow club pros for the honour of being called PGA champion.”

PGA chief executive Ivano Ficalbi endorsed Timm’s comments on the importance of the championship.

“The PGA Professional Championship is the pinnacle event for all PGA professionals and with the championship being hosted for the first time in the Eastern Cape, the PGA is looking forward to a great week of championship golf and member camaraderie,” he said.

“The excitement to go out and compete over the famous Humewood links will ensure that a suitable champion lifts the Denis Hutchinson Trophy at the close of play next Thursday.

“The Professional Championship is unique as men and women compete alongside each other for the overall PGA Professional Championship, although there is also the PGA Women’s Championship trophy up for grabs.”

In the meantime, Timm and the Humewood staff are hard at work ensuring top-notch conditions for the players.

“Humewood is proud to produce a golf course fit for tour standard for members and visitors,” he said.

“Therefore there is a lot more preparation than a normal week, except for marking of the course with regards to boundaries and hazards. The tournament director will mark the course for rules and regulations of the tournament.

“Our biggest challenge leading up to the event is green speed and quality of the roll it produces.

“The course staff will rise early morning and complete course preparations before sunlight appears. They will then return late afternoon to start preparations for the following day.

“All in all, we are confident we can produce first-class conditions and are looking forward to the first tee-off on Monday.”
The pros will enjoy some practice rounds on Monday and then play three rounds of medal strokeplay from Tuesday to Thursday to decide the 2021 champions.

Brendon Timm and Wiele Rademeyer
Humewood PGA club pros Brendon Timm (left) and Wiele Rademeyer are geared up for the Diners Club PGA Club Pros Championship at Humewood from Monday to Thursday. Photo: Supplied

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.