DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR BROWNE IN SA DISABLED OPEN

Hartbeespoort – Mike Browne held the lead for two days and on Wednesday 15 May the Englishman finished the job – winning the 21st Canon SA Disabled Golf Open in wire-to-wire style for a second successive year at Magalies Park Resort.

Mike opened the tournament with a two-under-par 70 to share the first-round lead with fellow leg-amputee Geoff Nicholas, but left the Australian world-beater behind on day two.

A second round 76 moved the defending champion to two-over-par 146 and he started the final round two shots clear of Geoff and 10 ahead of South African Les Autres pair Charl Theron and two-time former champion Iglin Grobbelaar.

Mike and Geoff were evenly matched over the first nine holes, but the 41-year-old former Royal Artillery gunner shifted into high gear on the homeward loop. He racked up three gains and drained a final birdie putt at the closing hole for a 74 and an 11-shot victory on four-over-par 220.

“I am happy, really happy with the way I bounced back after a truly awful start. I definitely hope I can come back next year to hunt for a hat-trick. I just love it here.

With all the different disability divisions competing in this event, Magalies Park is such a perfect venue and the hospitality is out of this world,” Mike said.

Graeme Mazur and Ian Mortimer Jones added to the English celebrations with a one and three finish in the Overall Stableford Division.

Graeme carded rounds of 31, 34 and 28 to win on 93 points, edging out fellow Les Autres golfer Shelvin Kraemer from South African by two points. Ian took third on 89 points, while South African Visually Impaired duo Leon Strydom and Johan Kotze shared fourth with 76 points. Charles Williams made a welcome return to the winner’s circle in the Deaf Championship.

The 2017 champion triumphed on 251 with rounds of 86, 82 and 83, denying fellow First Swing Program coach Daren Hanekom back-to-back wins.

KwaZulu-Natal junior Sandile Shange made his second appearance in flagship event and led from start to finish in the Deaf Overall Stableford Division. Shange won by six on 88 points with rounds of 31, 32 and 25.