Ken Borland

Kathu, Northern Cape (19 September 2024) – Werner Deyzel and amateur partner Hennie Muller had a brush with a count-out on their final hole of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Sishen Pro-Am on Thursday, but in the end a par and a bogey were enough for them to clinch a one-point victory on 93 points.

Deyzel steered Bloemfontein-based 16-handicapper Muller to the trophy after Craig Ross had laid a good platform as his pro on the first day. The Sishen Vodacom Origins of Golf Pro-Am had a slightly different format to other events in the series, with the amateurs pairing with two different professionals over the two days.

Woodhill Country Club golfer Deyzel and Muller beat out four other teams, who all finished on 92 points, for the title on Thursday: Neil Schietekat, Quintin Wilsnach and Tebogo Ruwana were second on a count-out from Rhys West, Regan Steyn and Steve Tshabalala in third; Jovan Rebula, Jbe’ Kruger and Mxolisi Dukwana were fourth; and fifth-placed Matthew Spacey, Toto Thimba Jnr and Luke Saffy completed the prizewinners.

“Hennie had a check on the live scoring on the ninth tee and saw we were tied for first place. So we knew we needed a three-pointer, but unfortunately Hennie hit his tee-shot a bit left. I hit a good drive and managed to make par, and Hennie made a five so we had two two-pointers. We were sure someone would get a three-pointer, but fortunately that turned out to be enough in the end,” Deyzel said. “I played well but it was thanks to my ammie Hennie that we won. He was very solid, played very well and he made a lot of points.”

Deyzel is a rookie player on the Sunshine Tour, having excelled on the Blue Label Development Tour. The 24-year-old is a phlegmatic golfer and, currently 40^th on the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, he knows he is not playing badly, but he also knows a small change of fortunes in terms of posting a few low scores, could be just around the corner with the Vodacom Origins of Golf Sishen tournament starting on Friday.

“My game is not bad at the moment, but I wouldn’t say it is very good either. I just need some putts to drop and then I will be making the good scores. But it’s been fun playing with the amateurs and Vodacom’s clients and it also allows us to get a practice round in before the tournament proper.

“It’s my second time playing at Sishen Golf Club, I’ve played in an amateur event here before. So I feel like I know the course quite well. Considering the time of year and the amount of rain that they have not had, the course is in spectacular condition,” Deyzel said.

SUN CITY – Werner Deyzel holds a one-stroke lead after the second round of the SunBet Challenge hosted by Sun City on Thursday and the Sunshine Tour rookie said he really likes the Gary Player Country Club course – but only when he hits the ball well off the tee.

Deyzel shot a one-under-par 71 on Thursday to go to five-under-par overall, which was enough to claim the lead going into Friday’s final round as the wind picked up around the Pilanesberg.

The 24-year-old graduated from the Blue Label Development Tour this year and on both of the first two days he has had to feel his way into his round. On the first day, he was three-over after his first two holes, making bogey on the first and then a double on the par-five second. Deyzel then played some remarkable golf to post a 68, which left him one stroke behind leader Martin Rohwer.

On Thursday, he began his round on the 10^th and dropped shots on the par-four 11^th and on the par-three 12^th hole. He then birdied the 13^th but bogeyed the 15^th, before consecutive birdies at 16 and 17 were followed by another drop on the 18^th.

Deyzel seemingly had had his fill of this rollercoaster golf as he started the front nine, birdieing the first, second and sixth holes, with just one bogey coming home, on the par-four third.

“If I hit a good tee-shot then I like the course,” Deyzel joked. “But if you don’t hit a good drive, then this course will really punish you. But the Gary Player Country Club is stunning and I definitely enjoy playing here. I don’t know why I’ve started badly both days, but then it’s just been about keeping my head down and coming out the other end.

“I hit the ball very well and my putter was very hot. Most of my bogeys came from poor tee-shots that weren’t in play, and some of those holes I actually scrambled well to make bogey. But if I can be more consistent off the tee, then the way my irons are, and with my putting, I just need to hit the greens and I can make a really low score in the final round,” Deyzel said.

Playing in just his third Sunshine Tour event, Deyzel has the lead going into the final round, albeit a small one. But he doesn’t believe he needs to approach things any differently than he did when excelling on the Blue Label Development Tour.

“I’m extremely happy with how things went last week at Irene [he finished tied-25^th in the KitKat Cash & Carry Pro-Am] and this tournament has been good too. Hopefully tomorrow I can produce another good round, but I will approach it the same as every round. I just have to stick to my game-plan and not get ahead of myself. And I will try to enjoy it,” Deyzel said.

Jonathan Broomhead produced inspired golf on the front nine, with an eagle on the par-five second and two birdies leading him to a 69, which left him tied for second on four-under-par with Lyle Rowe (72).

Rohwer was among six golfers tied for fourth on three-under-par, as he came home in 40 to post a 74.

Tristin Galant also eagled the second and produced some special golf in his 67 to go to three-under, while Yurav Premlall and Jaco Ahlers both fired 68s. Neil Schietekat (69) and Luke Brown (70) are the other golfers tied for fourth.