Nice swing but no follow through

Update

GARDEN ROUTE GOLF NEWS - Despite nine golfers from Knysna and Plettenberg Bay entering this year's Southern Cape Open, only a handful managed to finish the tournament, with the highest-placed golfer finishing in T34 place.

The 2019 Southern Cape Open took place at Knysna Golf Club from Friday 16 August to Sunday 18 August, with golfers playing four rounds of golf over the course of the three days, having to play 36 holes on Sunday.

Despite Knysna having enjoyed beautiful weather all week, the clouds decided to come out and enjoy some golf, undoubtedly making the players' task at hand slightly harder.

The first two days
The first golfers started at 09:00 on Thursday, with players teeing off simultaneously on the first and tenth tees, right up to 11:08 when the final three-ball set off on the first hole. The first day concluded with Pinnacle Point Golf Club member Jordan Duminy in first place at five under par, with fellow Pinnacle Point member Christo Lamprecht Jr in second at four under par, while Knysna local and Simola Golf and Country Estate member Anthony Parker in third place at three under par.

The second day of play on Saturday brought about gloomy weather once again, as golfers took to the greens to try and make the cut for Sunday by qualifying inside the top 60. Unfortunately for Parker he wasn't able to emulate his first round of success as he shot a nine-over 81 in the second round, dropping to T34, meaning Pezula Championship Course member Johan Greeff was the leading CX golfer heading into the final day of the competition.

Three more golfers from CX country – Damian Osner, Lukas Steyn, and Kyle Solomon – would make the cut along with Greeff and Parker to tackle the 36-hole final day.

The final day
The golfers couldn't have asked for more perfect conditions on the final day of play in Knysna, as temperatures reached the high 20s and the sun belted down overhead. The final day would truly be a test of the best, and heading into the final round Duminy held the lead at seven under par with Pearl Valley Golf Club member Keagan Thomas and Lamprecht Jr in a tied second at five under.

The first 18 holes of the day firmly established Duminy and Lamprecht Jr as the favourites to win, as they stood in first and second at -14 and -13 respectively. The tournament would truly go down to the wire, as heading into the last hole, Lamprecht Jr trailed Duminy by two shots.

But, as golf always proves, never say die, and Lamprecht Jr pulled off a brilliant eagle on the last hole to force a playoff with Duminy. Duminy would win the playoff to emerge as the 2019 Southern Cape Open winner.

Parker would finish as the highest-placed CX golfer in T34 place, at +10, with Osner the next-best CX golfer in 38th place at +11.

Johan Greeff finished the Southern Cape Open as the third-best Knysna golfer in T39 place, at +12. Photo: Blake Linder