Santa says...
SA Juniors put on a show!
Wow, these boys can play!
Sunshine Tour's Lali Stander said it best...
 | Van Wyk hits the mark at St Francis Links
28 June 2019
Ben van Wyk got instant redemption with a two-shot triumph in the Nomads National Order of Merit Coastal at St Francis Links, just days after faltering down the stretch while in contention in the Dimension Data Junior Open.
The reigning Nomads SA Boys U-19 Match Play champion posted the lowest junior score in the club’s history and equaled an amateur record that stood for 13 years when he fired a six-under-par 66 in the opening round on the Jack Nicklaus signature course.
He backed that up with a two-under 70 to win the title that has eluded him for the last three years.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the winner’s circle,” Van Wyk said. “For the last three years, I’ve led this tournament in the first round and threw it away on the last day. I told myself not this time; not after last week’s disappointment.”
The 18-year-old Fancourt golfer shared the lead with Christiaan Maas, going into the final round of the Dimension Data Junior Open at his home course last Tuesday.
He faded just slightly after a double-bogey at the third but kept pace with the Gauteng junior on the Montague course. However, a trio of bogeys over the last four holes meant he lost his chances of overhauling Maas for victory.
A share of third was a scant reward for the quality golf Van Wyk produced.
Fancourt junior, Ben van Wyk, won the Nomads National Order of Merit Coastal at St Francis Links; credit GolfRSA.
“It stung a little bit, but I let it go because I love St Francis Links. I’ve always played well here and I knew if I made a good start, I’d have another chance. That kept me motivated. And the putter was hot on the first day,” he said.
Birdies at the second and third, and another brace at the fifth and sixth holes pushed Van Wyk into pole position, and he never relinquished the lead. He added two more birdies at 12 and 13 and offset a lone bogey at 14, with a birdie at the par-three 17th for 66.
“I struck the ball really well and I hit almost every fairway and green. I put myself in good positions to go for the right side of the greens and the putter did the rest,” he said.
Another blistering start in the final round kept the George teenager in front.
“I hit it close on the first, lipped out for eagle at the par-five third and hit a 6-iron to three-foot at the short fourth to go three-under in the first four holes,” Van Wyk said.
“Unfortunately I hit a bit of a rough spot before the turn. I hit a 4-iron in and was in an awkward spot and couldn’t up-and-down for par at the eighth. On the ninth, I expected my second shot to fade. It stayed straight, went into the hazard and I ended up making double.”
He gained back two shots with birdies at 12 and 13 but dropped another at the par-five (16) after a wayward drive. He reached the final hole with a one-shot lead and was almost in trouble after a poor tee-shot, but the Fancourt golfer saved the day with a brilliant approach. He hit a perfect 9-iron to three feet and calmly boxed the putt to seal a two-shot victory on eight-under 146. This triumph gave Van Wyk an injection of confidence.
“I am really stoked about this win. This was my last official tournament in South Africa and it’s a great feeling to leave for the United States with two big wins under the belt,” said Van Wyk, who is taking up a golf scholarship at Augusta University in George in August.
“The Nomads events always draw the best junior golfers and to win against the best is pretty awesome. It’s been a great season so far, and I’ll take a lot of confidence to the United States.”
A runner-up finish also bodes well for Casey Jarvis from Ekurhuleni, who takes up his title defense in the Nomads SA Boys Under-17 Championship, at the same venue next week.
Jarvis helped the GolfRSA Junior Proteas to a record victory in the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan last Friday. Despite still recovering from mumps, he immediately flew to the Eastern Province to get some game time on the challenging Jack Nicklaus layout.
Jarvis began the final round four shots behind Van Wyk after a first-round 70 and the 15-year-old State Mines golfer still trailed the leader by a few shots through 10 holes.
He turned up the heat on the back nine and racked up a pair of birdies and an eagle at the par-five 16th, for a 68 to take second on six-under.
Fellow GolfRSA National Squad members Cole Stevens and Jordan Duminy finished third and fourth respectively.
Stevens from Gauteng carded rounds of 71 and 67 to finish on five-under, while SA Amateur finalist Duminy returned rounds of 67 and 73 for a four-under aggregate.
Final Results Top 20 136: Ben van Wyk - 66/ 70
138: Casey Jarvis - 70/ 68
139: Cole Stevens - 71/ 68
140: Jordan Duminy - 67/ 73
141: Samual Mckenzie - 74/ 67; Nikhil Gopal - 69/ 72
143: Christiaan Maas - 71/ 72; Nikhil Rama - 71/ 72
144: Samuel Simpson - 72/ 72
145: James Murray - 72/ 73
148: Jaden Deltel 71/ 77
149: Jean Pierre van der Watt - 74/ 75; Reece Coleman - 70/ 79
150: Yurav Premlall - 69/81
151: Amilkar Bhana - 77/ 74; Malan Potgieter - 76/ 75; Ayden Senger - 74/ 77
152: Kieron van Wyk 78/ 74; Jaime Clive Lewis - 76/ 76; Jonathan Wilsenach - 75/ 77
I always like to see the stats, especially in tournaments played over multiple days and in changing conditions. Day 1 was a "pearler" with almost no wind, and Day 2 provided the players with a little westerly that came in at 15-20kms.
Check out how the holes played to par and note how tough the 4th was to the top green on Day 2.
Click here to view the results.
Look at all the red numbers!
 | Day 1
What's happening on the course this week?
This week we are hosting the Boy's Under 17 National Championship. I expect more of the same!
Come out and watch...
Hat's off to Christiaan Bezuidenhout!
Here's a young man, who has truly fought off life's challenges to reach the top of the golfing ladder. It is amazing to see his journey to become such a miracle player. Christiaan just won at Valderrama, Spain's answer to Augusta. He held off the Rahm's and Garcia's with poise, winning his first European Tour event by a whopping 6 shots.
Hole-in-one: Alison makes it number 5!
Alison Bosch made here 5th ace; and the shot was absolutely perfect - 95m, 8 Iron. Hole 7, Par 3 - Wetland.
She now has her name on the hole-in-one board three times, twice on 17 and now on 7. Her first two hole-in-ones’ came on the 8th at St Francis Bay GC. When I spoke to her afterward, she credited Lynn Slogrove for some good alignment advice before her hole out on 7.
Gentlemen's Member/ Guest Invitational
The 13th Annual Member/ Guest Invitational Partnership
19-21 July 2019
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All St francis Links gentlemen members in good standing are encouraged to invite their best golfing friend (non-member) for a weekend of great golf and endless fun! Then you can take on the rest of the St Francis Link membership to get your names on the "Champions Board".
Along with the Club Championship and the annual Member/ Member event, this one is our BIG 3.
Nominated members must be handicapped at St Francis in order to enter.
Format for play
Two-person team will compete in two divisions over two days playing a 36-home Stableford Competition.
Day 1 | Friday, 19 July
"Getting to know you and the course" optional Par 3 Practice Round Great event that features the ultimate Par-3 course and shoot-out.
(Special rate of R250 playing fee per guest entered in the tournament for this practice round. For those guests not on members' carts, golf carts are complimentary for the Par 3 event.)
Day 2 | Saturday, 20 July
First 9-holes: Modified Betterbal - Select Best Drive - 80% of individual handicaps.
Second 9-hole: Betterball Stableford - 90% of individual handicaps.
Day 3 | Sunday, 21 July
First 9-holes: Betterball Stableford - 90% of individual handicaps.
Final 9-holes: Combined Stableford (full handicap).
First-round pairings may come from players' requests.
Final-round play will see the leaders tee-off together.
The "Open" Partnership
Before the first round play, each team will select a professional partner from the field participating in the 2019 Open Championships. The scores from the partnership will be added to the scores from the chosen professional to determine the winners. In the event of a tie, the amateur team score will count as the tie-breaker.
Schedule of events
Friday, 19 July 2019 Optional Ultimate Par-3 Practice Round Event - Tee times from 13h00.
Night Golf Shoot-out at 18h00.
Please book directly with the Golf Shop.
17h30, we have an optional breakfast at St Francis Link Clubhouse on own clubhouse on own account.
The first round of the invitational.
2 tee start from 09h00.
Join us for a live Comedy Show by Barry Hilton.
R120 per ticket | A la carte menu available for dinner
Call 042 200 4500 to reserve a table.
Sunday, 21 July 2019
From 07h00, we have an optional breakfast at St Francis Link Clubhouse on own clubhouse on own account.
The first round of the invitational.
Shot-gun starts at 08h30.
Final prizegiving and lunch will follow at about 14h00.
Your family is welcome to join you. Please indicate on the entry form here.
Entries & further information
Email: golf@stfrancislinks.com
Entry form are also available in the Golf Shop
Closing date for entries: 16 July 2019
Entry fee per participant
R370 per member and R640 per invited guest
Your entry fee includes
Entry into the event, tournament and prizes to be won (if you play well enough!)
St Francis welcome gift at registration.
Coming soon!
Be sure to put these in the must-do column
St Francis College 100 Clubs Monthly Lucky Draw
Limited to 100 people! You must be present! Yes, I am showing support for the St Francis College, as we do for all the area schools with special events and fundraisers. The College has grown to more than 160 learners. The programmes are excellent, and has been a drawcard for investment by young families in the area!
Click here for more information about the draw.
To receive a member form, please contact the school at 042 294 1395 or email info@stfranciscollege.co.za
The St Francis Links Hotel by Mantis
Show units are under construction
The proposed St Francis Links Hotel by Mantis is being sold as a sectional title scheme. Now, three units are being built as show units to promote sales.
There will be one two-bedroom show unit and two one-bedroom show units to be completed for the season.
The Hotel will consist of 60 one and two-bedroom suites, modeled after the successful hotel development at Pearl Valley, where the 2nd phase was launched recently. The Clubhouse will be home to a reception manned for 24/7, Food and Beverage services, AquaSpa and of course, the home of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course!
Pam Golding Properties are handling the sales for the Hotel. Neil Fox is the lead person. Contact Neil Fox at neil.fox@pamgolding.co.za. Saria Blaauw is assisting and they are dividing their time at The Links.
Club results
4-ball Alliance (1, 2, 3) 18-hole competition
29 June 2019
1st: Fred van Eyssen, Justin Ackerman, Ryan Hart & Dane Shaw - 94 Points
2nd: Fred Steyn, Christo van Loggerenberg, Craig Nel & Ronnie Nienaber - 88 Points
3rd: Norman Pretorius, Anton van der Merwe, Morris Lazarus & Fouche Swart (Ghost) - 84 Points c/i
2 Clubs
Dane Shaw - 7th; 14th &17th
Fred Smith - 4th
Craig Nel - 7th
Brett Wilson-Jones - 17th
Guy Pearson - 4th
Nico Booyens - 14th
Alison Bosch - 7th
Sandra Marais - 7th
Louis Boag - 4th
Margot McGregor - 7th
Albert Kolesley - 14th
4 Pointers
Fred van Eyssen - 3rd & 8th
Justin Ackerman - 10th
Ryan Hart - 13th
Dane Shaw - 6th
Craig Nel - 5th
Ronnie Nienaber - 13th
Norman Rock - 5th
Eddie Nel - 13th
Hein Spangenberg - 5th & 6th
Percy Owen - 12th
Barry Phillips - 9th
Paul Barrow - 5th
Arthur Goodman - 6th
John Boonzaier - 5th
Dave Hart - 12th
Gerrie Botha - 6th
Margot McGregor - 7th
Dita Meulmeester - 17th
Brian Cunningham - 13th
Alfie Stander - 6th
Alison Bosch - 7th & 9th
Sandra Marais - 7th
Matthew Ferry - 3rd
Lynne McMillan - 10th
Kevin Boag - 13th
Fouche Swart - 5th
Norman Pretorius - 8th
House Keeping
SA Boys - 1-4 July
ITEC Open Wednesday - 10 July
Member Guest - 20-21 July
Highlights
Dane Shaw - 64 Net
Percy Owen - 65 Net
Ronnie Nienaber - 68 Net
Fred van Eyssen - 68 Net
Norman Pretorius - 68 Net
Hennie Jordaan - 71 Net
Paul Barrow - 71 Net
Dave Hart - 71 Net
David Kettlewell - 71 Net
Sandra Marais - 71 Net
Brett Wilson-Jones - 72 Net
Sandra Cunningham - 72 Net
Alfie Stander - 72 Net
Rex McGregor - 72 Net
Upcoming events for the calendars
Ernie and Linda Müller and their team from Selective Lighting are making Fridays extra special at St Francis Links. Once a month, they host the Selective Lighting/The Fireworks Friday Competition. We shotgun start the players for 9-holes. Starting times are based on the season: 14h30 in the "Cool Season" and 15h30 in the summer months.
Be a part of growing the Club and join us for nine and some good times after golf! Please enter in advance for numbers.
Open Wednesday (2nd Wednesday)
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This event is sponsored by ITEC, providing meat and added prizes.
Invite your friends to enjoy SA’s best, with special rates for golf, snacks after the game and great prizes
And, hey, sometimes Curry Night follows. So, why not stay or take away!
Monday Roll-up!
Pitch up and play (9 holes or 18 Par-3 from 14h00). Let's add you to the Whatsapp group.
All-day Saturdays
Morning and afternoon fields: the afternoon field will be booked from 12 noon backward, with emphasis on "ready golf"
Monday Men's Book Club
17h00 in Jack's Bar (no reading required)
Ladies' Tea (and coffee)
Calling all ladies to come join is every Tuesday at 10h00 on the Veranda.
Click here to view even more major upcoming events.
Every great shot starts (and ends) with a SMILE!
- Santa and the Links team.
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