BENONI, 17 April 2015 – The Western Province Seniors and Super Seniors celebrated a superb double victory as both teams successfully defended their A-Section titles for a second successive year in the INDWE SA Senior Amateur Inter-Provincial in Benoni.
Peter van Coller, Japie Koopman, Andrew Cleophas, Tony Bailey, Brian Mampies, Francois le Roux, Dirk van der Merwe and Craig Poulton combined for a superb final round at Ebotse Links Golf Club on Friday to seal the Senior team’s fourth victory in five years.
Super Senior stalwarts Ivan Palframan and Herman September partnered Mark Hair and rookie Tim Hewan to claim an unprecedented fifth consecutive victory in the 27th edition of the country’s largest senior team championship.
“Both divisions were very tightly contested, but our players all kept a cool head under pressure,” said manager John Winter.
“Their single-mindedness and determination pulled it through and we are incredibly proud of both teams for all the heart they showed this week to pull off another double victory for Western Province.”
The Province Seniors started the final round with 10 points in hand and a two point lead, but the defending champions had to rally hard fiercely after a 5.5 – 6.5 loss to second-placed Central Gauteng.
The 2014 winners produced a champion’s innings against KwaZulu-Natal to triumph 8 – 4 and gain two crucial points and 13.5 games points for the podium finish.
Central Gauteng threw everything into their match against KwaZulu-Natal, but came up an agonising half a games point short after beating the coastal side 7.5 – 4.5.
Province topped the log with 12 points and 51.5 game points, while the 2013 champions had to settle in second place with a dozen points and 51 game points.
KwaZulu-Natal placed third with eight points and 44.5 game points, while Gauteng North rallied to finish fourth with a 9 – 3 win against Mpumalanga after an 8.5 – 3.5 loss to Ekurhuleni.
Mpumalanga will downgrade to the B-Section after the side finished at the bottom of the log after seven straight losses.
The Province Super Senior quartet began the final round in third place on the grid and lagged two points behind log leaders Central Gauteng and 1.5 games points behind Gauteng North.
Province drew 2-all in their Foursomes against Gauteng North and 1.5-all against Central Gauteng.
Hewan and September won their Singles against both teams, while Palframan halved against Colin Weinstein from Central and the side pulled off 4 – 2 victories on both counts.
Western Province sealed their fifth title with eight points, finishing one point clear of KwaZulu-Natal.
The coastal side saved their best for last, defeating Ekurhuleni 7.5 – 2.5 and beating Boland 4 – 2 to climb to second in the standings.
Gauteng North thumped Central Gauteng 5.5 – 0.5 to finish third on six points, edging Central Gauteng into fourth on games points.
Ekurhuleni produced a grandstand finish to beat Boland 5 – 1 and take fifth in the final standings.
PHOTO – The victorious Western Province Senior and Super Senior teams celebrated double victories in the 27th INDWE SA Senior Amateur Inter-Provincial; credit Ernest Blignaut.