Walvis Bay Golf Club reclaimed the coveted Walvis Bay vs Tsumeb Challenge Trophy after recording a convincing 9-5 victory over Tsumeb Golf Club in the annual inter-club competition held at the Walvis Bay Golf Club last weekend.
The win sees Walvis Bay regain the trophy from their northern rivals and extend their overall lead in the long-running series to 17 victories to Tsumeb’s 14, with one contest having ended in an all-square draw since the competition was first played in 2003.
Fourteen teams from each club took part in this year’s challenge, which was contested in difficult early easterly wind conditions. The format featured betterball match play over the first nine holes, followed by scramble drive match play on the back nine, producing a day of highly competitive golf played in excellent spirit.
Walvis Bay’s consistent performances across the course proved decisive as the hosts secured a comfortable 9-5 victory to reclaim the prestigious trophy.
The event was generously sponsored by RNBA, which sponsored four competition prizes as well as a prize for the best-performing Tsumeb team.
In the individual competition, Willie van Zyl and Roche Pitout claimed first place on a count-out with 46 points ahead of Grant and Jonathon Mather, while Bertus Venter and Thomas Wolff finished third.
During the prize-giving ceremony, RNBA representative Buddy Bramwell congratulated both clubs on an outstanding day of golf and praised the sportsmanship displayed throughout the competition, expressing his appreciation for helping make the event another success and confirming the sponsor’s support for next year’s tournament.
A symbolic highlight of the afternoon saw Tsumeb Golf Club president Louie Stehle hand the Challenge Trophy to Walvis Bay captain Shane Westerdale, officially returning the silverware to the coastal club.
Despite the defeat, Tsumeb Golf Club praised the hospitality extended by Walvis Bay Golf Club, thanking the hosts for an enjoyable weekend both on and off the course.
The visiting club also acknowledged the warm welcome, excellent meals and camaraderie shared between the two clubs, congratulating Walvis Bay on reclaiming the trophy while promising to mount a strong challenge when the competition returns to Tsumeb next year.
The annual Challenge Trophy continues to strengthen the longstanding friendship between the two clubs, with players from both sides celebrating together after the presentation in keeping with the tradition of sportsmanship that has defined the fixture for more than two decades.
Attention now turns to the WBM Flag Competition, scheduled for this weekend, where golfers will compete to see whose flag remains furthest around the course.
The club has also reminded members that the Multisave Medal, Medal Mania and Medal Masters competitions will be played on 15 August, while annual membership subscriptions are now due ahead of the updated membership list taking effect on 1 August.
Members have further been encouraged to attend the club’s Annual General Meeting on 19 August at 18:30, with nominations for committee positions to be displayed on the clubhouse notice board.
In Thursday Seniors action, Bertus Fokkens produced an outstanding 51-point round to take top honours, finishing comfortably ahead of Andre Burger and Peter Davidson, who were separated by a count-out for second place.
By Rudi Bowe
