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Port Edward - Vaughn Groenewald ended his three-year winless run at the venue and tournament of his last victory when he won the Sun Wild Coast Challenge on the first playoff hole on Saturday.
He entered the final round trailing Adilson Da Silva - whom, along with Darren Fichardt and Hennie Otto made up the four-man playoff after finishing 16-under-par 194 in regulation - by a single shot on a total of 12-under. Groenewald last entered the winner’s circle in 2015 when he won the same tournament some three years ago.
“The whole day I was just going with the motion, I was one-under and probably three or four shots behind,” noted Groenewald after his playoff win, talking about his thought process during the final round, “I wasn’t even thinking of the win. I was too far behind. But then I turned and I thought ‘well, let’s play for second or third.”
A final round 66 catapulted him to a share of the top spot with the players already mentioned to force the tournament into a sudden death.
And, having fallen on the wayside on four other times before, he registered his first playoff win at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club this week. Unlike a few other times when he looked to be contending from early on in the tournament, this time, he went under the radar until the last couple of holes in regulation play.
“I’ve been in a playoff, I think, four times before,” he said, “but, this is the first I have won. I’m always happy for a win.”
Despite the challenges encountered prior to the start of this event, which saw some holes vandalised before the start of the tournament which led to a decision to play the tournament on just the front nine of the golf course - coupled with delays of tee times due to inclement weather at times, Groenewald wasn’t that bothered in Port Edward.
“I love it here,” he exclaimed, “I love the coast, I love this layout and I think I might just take up membership here.”
While he emerged as the winner at the end of it all, it was Fichardt who made the most of the forgiving weather conditions. He signed for a bogey-free eight-under-par 62 to secure himself a spot in the playoff. Da Silva, who was in the driving seat for the previous two rounds, thanks to an opening 63 that was followed by a 64, was just as solid. The youngest in that playoff, Du Plessis, put up a fight of his life, only to be let down by his missed birdie-putt in sudden death.
Over and above all the challenges faced this week, a spectacular golf tournament was served and a worthy contender triumphed.
Scores:
194 - Darren Fichardt 66 66 62, Adilson Da Silva 63 64 67, Vaughn Groenewald 67 61 66, Hennie du Plessis 66 64 64
195 - Alex Haindl 67 63 65
197 - Benjamin Follett-Smith 67 64 66, Oliver Bekker 69 64 64
198 - Titch Moore 66 66 66, Jake Roos 67 65 66
199 - Duane Keun 68 63 68, Jacques Blaauw 65 68 66, Louis Albertse 67 66 66, Louis de Jager 70 65 64, Pieter Moolman 69 67 63
200 - Wynand Dingle 65 67 68, Marc Cayeux 67 69 64, Thriston Lawrence 68 68 64
201 - Daniel van Tonder 64 66 71, CJ du Plessis 67 67 67, Jean Hugo 69 66 66, Philip Eriksson 67 68 66, Jean-Paul Strydom 66 69 66, Chris Swanepoel 68 67 66, Rhys West 70 66 65, Chris Cannon 71 65 65, Callum Mowat 69 68 64
202 - Doug McGuigan 69 65 68, Aubrey Beckley 70 65 67, Jaco Prinsloo 65 71 66
203 - Francois van Vuuren 68 67 68, Toto Thimba 65 70 68, Lyle Rowe 67 68 68, Neil Schietekat 67 68 68, Ruan Conradie 67 69 67, Fredrik From 69 68 66, Colin Nel 68 69 66, Martin Rohwer 64 73 66
204 - Michael Hollick 68 67 69, Christiaan Basson 69 67 68, Desne Van Den Bergh 67 70 67, Jake Redman 68 69 67
205 - Philip Geerts 69 67 69, Jacquin Hess 68 69 68
206 - Rourke van der Spuy 68 69 69, Keenan Davidse 66 71 69, Madalitso Muthiya 69 68 69
207 - Victor Lange 66 68 73, Andre Nel 70 66 71, Jared Harvey 69 68 70, Garth Mulroy 68 69 70
208 - Breyten Meyer 68 67 73, Stephen Ferreira 68 69 71
