Lyall Mc Neill defends his KZN Senior Championship title at Victoria Country Club with a level par gross score of 142. Lyall is pictured receiving the Championship Trophy from Richard Nel, Chairman of the KZN Senior Amateur Committee.

The 2023 KZN Senior Championships which was held at Victoria Country Club, Pietermaritzburg over 5th-6th March, drew a smallish field of 74 players from across the country. This is the final event on the KZN Senior Amateur calendar after which the Senior IPT Teams are selected and the B Division Order of Merit players recognised.

Victoria Country Club were excellent hosts for this tournament and the level of golf bore testimony of the ability of the leading scorers to master pretty tough conditions. The greens were slick but receptive and the rough was pretty lush, deep and “juicy” which accounted for a number of lost balls and “fat” shots if one strayed off the perfect fairways.

In the A Division after day one, Greg Gleeson headed up the leader board with a fine two-under gross 69. One shot back was defending champion, Lyall McNeill with one-under gross 70. Other good scores on day one were Basil Naidoo with even par 71, Johnny Branco and Murray Gilson on 72, Gary Weksh, Johan Viljoen and Henry Trevena on 74 and Keith Forde and Morgan Phillips on 75.

Day two saw some players drift off the pace while others made up ground. Good scores came from Keith Forde and Morgan Phillips each with 72 gross, Gert Coetzee and Lynton Beckett with 73 but it came down to another steady round of one-over 72 for Lyall McNeill to give him a total of 142 and first place in the tournament. Lyall successfully defended his Championship title having won the previous year in 2022 at Durban Country Club with a level par score of 144.

Second place in the A Division went to Greg Gleeson who managed to post a 77 to add to his first day round of 69 for a total of 146.

Third place went to Keith Forde with rounds of 75 and 72 for a total of 147.

Fourth place went to Johnny Branco who posted a 75 after his first round score of 72 for a total of 147 counting out Basil Naidoo also on 147 in the process.

The Best Super Senior prize went to Morgan Phillips with scores of 75 and 72 for a total of 147.

Best nett in the A Division went to Gary Welsh with two steady rounds of gross 74 on each day for a nett score of 140.

The B Division players also faced exactly the same playing conditions as the A Division, however some excellent scores were returned on day one of the tournament. Heading up the leaderboard with an excellent 40 individual stableford points was Robin Singh. Close behind were Ganas Naicker with 37 and Domingos de Jesus and Pranosh Bhagwandeen each with 36. One point back were Paul Ramlal and Reggie Moodley each with 35 points.

Day two was a little different with Robin Singh slipping back a little and Pranosh Bhagwandeen returning another good score of 37 points which was enough to see him take first place with a total of 73 individual stableford points, counting out Robin Singh, also with a total of 73 points into second place.

Pranosh Bhagwandeen, winner of the B Division with a total of 73 individual stableford points being congratulated by Richard Nel.

Robin Singh managed to hold it together and return a score of 33 points on day two to add to his first round of 40 points for a total of 73 to give him second place in the B Division having been counted out by Pranosh Bhagwandeen. Robin also took top honors on the B Division Order of Merit with a total score of 274 for the season.

Ganas Naicker took the Super Senior prize in the B Division with scores of 37 and 35 for a total of 72 stableford points. Ganas also ended up in third position on the B Division Order of Merit for the 2022/2023 season.

The KZN Senior Championship Tournament is the finale of the 2022/2023 season after which the Senior and Super Senior IPT Team selection is announced. The B Division top 8 on the Order of Merit are also recognised and rewarded for their performance throughout the season.

The players selected to represent KZN at the forthcoming Senior IPT to be held at San Lameer over 17th – 21st April 2023 is as follows;

Basil Naidoo (Durban Country Club) – Captain

Morgan Phillips (Victoria CC)

Lyall McNeill (Durban Country Club)

Keith Forde (Durban Country Club)

Gary Welsh (Kloof Country Club)

Guy O’Connor (Kloof Country Club)

Murray Gilson (Durban Country Club)

Mike Matthews (Umhlali)

Senior Manager – Mike Atkinson.

The Super Senior Team selection is as follows;

Richard Nel (Maritzburg GC) – Captain

Noel Parsonage (Umkomaas)

Lynton Beckett (Royal Durban GC)

Kevin Curren (Durban Country Club)

Super Senior Manager – Dave Fisher.

The Top 8 In the B Division Order of Merit were ranked as follows;

• Robin Singh 274
• Mike Sekobane 269
• Ganas Naicker 265
• Omp Ramlakhan 258
• Pat Moodley 258
• Mahmood Khan 257
• Gavin Wilkinson 250
• Ajith Rombarron 249

Many thanks to all those who officiated at the tournament as well as the staff and management of Victoria Country Club who contributed to making this an excellent event. Also thanks go to our sponsors for their continued support.

(photographs credit : Samakipics)