Mather Open Champion

Rudi Bowe

The local ex-professional golfer Grant Mather was the winner of the Walvis Bay Open sponsor by Iris Boutique Hotel and Restaurant in Walvis Bay.

It was a busy weekend at the Walvis Bay golf course with the Walvis Bay Open and the first Namibia Amateur Golf Union (NAGU) event of the year. The new sponsor Iris Boutique Hotel and Restaurant spiced up the event with their generous sponsorship by inviting ex-Protea cricketer, Paul Harris, General Manager of Omeya Country Club in Windhoek Mr Erhard Zwiebel and a few business partners to the occasion. NAGU agreed to revert to an 18-hole, 18-hole format for the 2 days and this proved to be a popular move with a maximum field of 64 players eventually teeing off on Saturday morning.
Wind conditions and greens proved to be tricky for everyone on day one with only the local ex-professional, Grant Mather, getting the better of the course in posting a solid 71 gross to lead by 4 shots.
The second day played somewhat easier for most, but nobody could match Grant who posted par 72 for a total gross score of 143. This was good enough to hold off runner-up Gabriel Shikodi by 5 shots. Best overall net went to Eugene Venter on 145 with Thomas Shitaleni the runner-up on 146.
In his prize-giving speech the General Manager of Iris Boutique Hotel and Restaurant, Filipe Clara, promised to be back next year.

Other prize winners were:
A-Division:
Best net – Dennis Haimbondi 148
Runner up net – Erhard Zwiebel 149
Best Gross- Francois Champion 155
Runner up Gross- A Bonifatius 157
B- Division:
Best net – Willie v Zyl – 147
Runner up net – Andre Burger 148
Best Gross- Helmut Ndjendja 165
Runner up Gross- Herman Smidt 166
C- Division:
Best net – Bertie Saunderson 149
Runner up –Ben Louw 151
Best Gross- Jurie Engelbrecht 178
Runner up Gross- Herman Neethling 179

Due to a change in the date for the Federation Kit Pairs competition in Windhoek which will now be on 23/24 February, it was decided to move the club fund raiser a week earlier to Saturday 16 February. The entry form will be on the board shortly. The format will be an interesting 7 Better ball holes, 7 combined holes and 4 Throw away holes – choices to be made after completion of a hole.
The other competitions for the next few weeks are as follows:
2 February-DULUX Better ball first qualifier – Please note the rules, you need to play both qualifiers (next one in beginning of June) with the same partner.
3 February-Walvis Bay Sages and AGM (18 holes starting 08h00 and 9 holes starting 10h30)
9 February-First 2019 PISCS monthly medal
16 February-CLUBS FUND RAISER
23 February-MOBILE SOLUTIONS in Walvis Bay
23 February-Federation Kit Pairs competition in Windhoek