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Wild Coast - Colin Nel was happy to lift the Wild Waves Golf Challenge trophy after the final round was cancelled on Friday due to winds that were strong enough to move balls off the greens at Wild Coast Sun Country Club.
“I went to varsity at Oklahoma City and it blows a bit there, but I’ve never played in conditions quite like this. Today I got to the third tee when they pulled us off and the first few holes were treacherous.
"The wind was very strong and I think it was the right call, because the balls were moving and flags were being blown off the greens,” he said.
The 30-year-old has campaigned on the Sunshine Tour since 2009 without a win, but all of that changed on Friday when he clinched the lion’s share of the R700 000 prize fund.
“It’s a great feeling that hasn’t quite set in yet. After coming off and waiting for three hours it got a bit nerve-wracking, so I’m very pleased with the victory. Everyone is going for their first win and often once the ice is broken then more wins follow,” he said.
Nel was comfortably the best player over 36 holes at Wild Coast Sun Country Club and shot 65 on both Wednesday and Thursday for a 10-under-par total and a three-shot victory.
On Friday winds blowing at 45 kilometres per hour and gusting up to 65 prevented the conclusion of the final round.
The forecast predicted worse conditions for the next two days and Tournament Director Gary Todd made the call to decide the tournament based on the 36-hole scores according to the tour's official website.
For Nel it meant a maiden victory in his home province and with the upcoming Vodacom Origins of Golf event being played at the same venue there was extra reason to celebrate.
“I’m a Sharks boy and this place is down the road from my house, so it certainly feels good to win here. I played nicely this week and made every putt I looked at. I’m holding thumbs for next week, because we’re playing on the same course,” he said.
Ulrich van den Berg shot rounds of 68, 65 at the par-70 track for a share of second and was joined by Jared Harvey on seven-under-par for the week. Ockie Strydom, Heinrich Bruiners, Tyrone Mordt, Jaco Ahlers and James Kamte all shared fourth place on six-under-par.
SCORES (RSA unless otherwise specified):
130 - Colin Nel 65 65
133 - Jared Harvey 69 64, Ulrich van den Berg 68 65
134 - Jaco Ahlers 68 66, James Kamte 65 69, Ockie Strydom 72 62, Tyrone Mordt 67 67, Heinrich Bruiners 67 67
135 - Danie van Tonder 69 66, Andrew McLardy 66 69
136 - Alex Haindl 69 67, Mark Murless 70 66, Doug McGuigan 69 67, Charl Coetzee 69 67, Warren Abery 67 69, Divan van den Heever 68 68, Le Roux Ferreira 68 68, Steven Ferreira 67 69, Tyrone Ferreira 68 68
137 - Jake Redman 69 68, PH McIntyre 69 68, Morne Buys 68 69, Grant Muller 70 67, Lindani Ndwandwe 73 64, Drikus Bruyns 67 70, Daniel Greene 69 68, JJ Senekal 72 65
138 - Stuart Smith (BOT) 70 68, Jacques Blaauw 72 66, Louis de Jager 70 68, Trevor Fisher Jnr 65 73, Mark Williams 71 67, Attie Schwartzel 69 69
139 - Justin Harding 71 68, Titch Moore 69 70, Keenan Davidse 68 71, Stefan Engell Andersen (KEN) 68 71, Adrian Ford 71 68, Bryce Bibby 70 69, Shaun Smith 72 67, Ryan Tipping 69 70, Toto Thimba (Jnr) 70 69, Anthony Michael 69 70, Andrew Curlewis 71 68, Shaun Norris 69 70, Derick Petersen 69 70
140 - Juan Langeveld 69 71, CJ du Plessis 72 68, Madalitso Muthiya (ZAM) 75 65, Wynand Dingle 71 69, Andre Cruse 71 69, Matthew Carvell 72 68, Neil Schietekat 69 71, Gideon Pienaar 72 68, John Bele 68 72
141 - Jean Hugo 72 69, Peter Karmis 71 70, JC Ritchie 68 73, Prinavin Nelson 74 67, Jacques Kruyswijk 73 68, Neil Cheetham (ENG) 71 70
142 - Makhetha Mazibuko 68 74, Wallie Coetsee 75 67, Lyle Rowe 68 74, Tyrone Ryan 70 72, Dayne Moore (ZAM) 68 74, Clifford Howes 68 74, Greg Bentley (ZIM) 69 73
143 - Roberto Lupini 73 70, Torben Baumann (GER) 72 71, Allan Versfeld 71 72, Jaco Prinsloo 73 70, Riekus Nortje 72 71, Chris Swanepoel 72 71
144 - Sipho Bujela 74 70, Pieter Moolman 73 71, Nic Henning 71 73, Ruan de Smidt 76 68, Vaughn Groenewald 73 71, Ryan Strauss 71 73, Francois Coetzee 73 71, Desne van den Bergh 73 71, JG Claassen 70 74
145 - Maritz Wessels 75 70, Omar Sandys 70 75, Christiaan Basson 74 71, Tertius van den Berg 73 72, Theunis Spangenberg 67 78
146 - Eddie Taylor 73 73, Andrew Light 77 69, Rhys West 71 75
147 - Jean-Paul Strydom 72 75, Dean Burmester 72 75, Justin Turner 72 75
148 - Michael Hollick 72 76, Bryce Easton 75 73, Ross Wellington 75 73
149 - Neo Thubisi 71 78, Alan Michell 77 72, Teboho Sefatsa 75 74, Paul de Beer 70 79, Derik Ferreira 80 69
150 - Arthur Horne (SWZ) 73 77
151 - Mpho Mafishe 76 75, Louis Botha 81 70, Nelson Mudanyi (KEN) 81 70, Peter Wilson (ENG) 75 76
152 - Kangwine Chiluba (ZAM) 77 75, Gert Myburgh 78 74, Johan du Buisson 74 78, Allister de Kock 78 74
154 - Brett Liddle 78 76, Maurice Prinsloo 77 77
155 - Drikus van der Walt 77 78
164 - Peter Dlamini (SWZ) 82 82
