Central Gauteng and Gauteng North emerged victorious at the SAGDB Nomads Motus Challenge in early December, but the biggest winner was golf as South Africa’s young rising talent showcased the fruits of the South African Golf Development Board’s (SAGDB) national programme.
The eighth edition of the SAGDB’s flagship event was hosted by Benoni Country Club, where 84 juniors, representing all 14 of South Africa’s golf unions, joined the battle for glory.
“The SAGDB Nomads Motus Challenge is a wonderful opportunity for our rising stars to showcase their skills and has become a sought-after ticket among the youngsters in our national programme,” said SAGDB managing director Grant Hepburn. “The depth of talent in our national programme is incredible and this year, for the first time, we had teams of six across both sections.
“It was fantastic to see such talent on display. Most of these kids came into our golf development programme at the age of around seven or eight and have risen through the ranks to earn the opportunity to represent their unions with pride at our flagship event.”
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FINAL RESULTS
How it all finished at the 2023 SAGDB Nomads Motus Challenge.
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FINAL RESULTS
How it all finished at the 2023 SAGDB Nomads Motus Challenge.
A DIVISION
508 Central Gauteng 158 170 180
491 Western Province 163 163 165
481 Eastern Province 151 153 177
459 Boland 148 144 157
447 KwaZulu-Natal 148 152 152
389 Mpumalanga 130 118 141
163 Free State 106 114 141
B DIVISION
460 Gauteng North 150 147 163
444 North West 148 148 148
372 Border 111 117 144
352 Limpopo 104 109 139
309 Ekurhuleni 88 105 116
303 Northern Cape 100 87 116
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The depth of talent in our national programme is incredible and this year, for the first time, we had teams of six across both sections
– Grant Hepburn
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Central Gauteng six-pack Alexis Toriani, Eric Ncube, Jayden Hoskins, Rezario Adams, Tawriq Abrahams and Vuyisani Makama stockpiled a formidable 508 points at the 54-hole inter-provincial Medal Stableford competition to claim victory in the A Section.
Defending champions Western Province, with 491 points, finished second, with Eastern Province taking third place with 481 points.
Makama put an exclamation point on an exciting week for the Lions with a dramatic eagle finish on the par-five 18th, and a closing round of 40 earned him a share of the individual honours on 112 points alongside his captain Hoskins and fellow GolfRSA National Squad member Jondre Ludick from Eastern Province.
Gauteng North were even more impressive, completing a 44-point victory march to lift the B-Section title and dominating the individual competition. Skipper Zinan Maimane led from the front to steer the Daisies to victory, supported by Orateng Maphake, Phenyo Sebata, Abdul Ebrahim, Leigh Loots and Mangwe Nsele. North West finished second on 444 points, while 372 points earned Border third place.
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By supporting junior golf, we continue to give the youngsters the opportunity to compete against each other on the biggest stage - Alten Hulme
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Maimane topped the individual leaderboard on 102 points, Loots finished second on 94 points and Sebata tied for third on 93 points with Stephan van Rooyen and Lubanzi Tselane from North West.
These impressive results bore testimony to the SAGDB’s commitment to nurturing South Africa’s young talent, and Hepburn, visibly proud of the players’ performances, emphasised the dual focus of the SAGDB’s efforts: “We not only do life skills with them. We actively look to produce very good players, champions who can play at the GolfRSA provincial team events and go on to represent South Africa abroad. And we’ve had success with many of these players turning professional and playing on the big stage.
“So, this is where it all starts for them, where they cut their teeth and gain experience for the future.”
The tournament also served as a reminder of the enormous role the Nomads Golf Club of South Africa has played, and continues to play, with their financial support of junior golf in the country.
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Gallery below
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DID YOU KNOW?
SAGDB facts and figures.
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DID YOU KNOW?
SAGDB facts and figures.
- Since its inception in 1999, more than 38 000 children have come through the programme. There are approximately 2 200 children enrolled in the PGA-approved LTAD coaching programme across the 14 provinces, who attend weekly sessions.
- Close to 280 members in the programme have earned provincial colours at Open Amateur (senior) and Junior level on merit in the past 24 years, while there are 22 SAGDB graduates competing in the professional ranks on the Sunshine Tour, Altron Big Easy Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour.
- On the US collegiate front, Hayden Garcia and Alkin Barkley graduated from Virginia Union University, and Anvy Shongwe graduated from Wilmington University. Cole Stevens, who represented South Africa at the Youth Olympics, and Kieron van Wyk (above), who starred for South Africa at the Spirit International, are enrolled at Augusta University and the College of Charleston. Gift Zulu studied pre-medicine at the New Mexico Military Institute and is studying medicine at New Mexico State University.
- Closer to home, Crystal Beukes became the fifth SAGDB graduated to represent South Africa on the world stage when she teed it up at the 2022 FISU World University Games in Italy. Beukes and Jamie-Lee Daniels are both pursuing a MBcHB degree in medicine at Stellenbosch University.
- More than 50 graduates are employed in the golf industry in South Africa. Some have even landed jobs abroad through the African Turf Academy, including Boipelo Raphiri who is on the greenkeeping staff at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rhode Island and Siyabonga Dube (below), who is working at Emirates Golf Club.
- A large number of graduates also completed the PGA of SA coaching certification, with some having returned to the SAGDB where they are guiding the next generation of talented players.
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Alten Hulme, the National PRO of Nomads, explained their long-standing dedication to the development of young players: “Nomads have been involved in the furtherance of golf since 1960. Gary Player was one of our founding members, and we almost immediately started supporting junior golf in South Africa.
“Every notable name in South African golf has had a brush with Nomads at some point, including our Major champions Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.
“By supporting junior golf, we continue to give the youngsters the opportunity to compete against each other on the biggest stage. That exposure is crucial, and the quality of golf we’ve seen from our players at professional tournaments and here at Benoni is testimony to that. We as Nomads are very, very proud of what we do through our Furtherance of Golf programme, in addition to what we do for those less fortunate than us.”
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ERNEST BLIGNAULT/GOLFRSA/TYRONE WINFIELD/SUNSHINE TOUR