The Plettenberg Bay Open unfortunately clashed with the KeNako SA World Juniors Am-Am, which meant that some of the KeNako students were unable to play. However, this did not stop those that did play from performing exceptionally well.

Kyle Barker, who turned 14 in February, had his best ever tournament result. He shot an excellent 76 in the morning and followed this with a fine 79 in the afternoon which was played in far tougher wind and rain conditions. This result follows Kyle’s previous career best 78 posted at the Southern Cape Junior Order of Merit (OOM) tournament played last weekend. Kyle’s golf is certainly on the upgrade and the fruits of the last year’s work are really starting to pay dividends. Kyle won the Best Nett a.m. round and was the day’s overall Nett Winner, a superb result.

 Phumlani Maluka’s golf is coming on in leaps and bounds. Phumlani joined the KeNako Academy in January this year without ever previously having received any professional coaching. Phumlani has quickly adapted to his new KeNako ‘home’ in George and is showing excellent dedication to the opportunity that has been presented to him. He shot rounds of 80 and 77, his afternoon 77 being the Best Nett p.m. round. It will not be long before Phumlani’s current 7 handicap is cut.

Another new KeNako student, Deon Muller, also managed to record his best score since joining the KeNako Academy at the start of 2012. Deon is an extremely talented sportsman who was previously the beneficiary of a rugby scholarship in KwaZulu Natal before deciding the golf is his first sporting passion. Deon also happens to be an excellent athlete and recently won the Victor Ludorum at an Inter-Schools Athletics meeting where he competed for Glenwood House School, despite not having trained for athletics. At the Plettenberg Bay Open Deon scored an excellent 76 in the tough afternoon conditions and won the Best Gross prize for his afternoon round.

Well played to all 3 of the above-mentioned boys and to all of the other KeNako students who played in the Plettenberg Bay Open. For most of the new intake of KeNako students, competing early in the year is no easy task because they are embarking on new training programs and perhaps ‘tweaking’ their golf swings.

Thanks are due to Plettenberg Bay Golf Club for hosting this event and for creating yet another opportunity for aspiring young golfers to compete with the more seasoned Southern Cape senior amateur players. Talking about ‘seasoned’ players, we wish those KeNako students lucky enough to be playing in this week’s KeNako SA World Juniors tournament good luck – we hope that they thoroughly enjoy the experience of staying in the Golf Village that has been created at the host hotel in George with their fellow competitors from all parts of the world.