Golfers hoping rain stays away for PE Open after earlier events cancelled

THE province’s leading golfers will be hoping the rain stays away this weekend ahead of the Beta Chemicals PE Open at PE Golf Club on Sunday.

The event was meant to be the third scheduled on the EP Golf Union’s calendar for the year, but has now become the first after the Volvo Mid-Amateur (June 24) and Humewood Silver Salver (July 22) were rained out.

The rain earlier this week has placed tremendous strain on PE Golf Club, which was closed for play on Wednesday.

However, according to golf manager Barry Harmer the course has held up well, although he warned that the rain predicted for the weekend might complicate matters. "We have measured 841mm of rain on the course, from January 1 until July 31, which is way above the average,” said Harmer.

"But our bunkers are all in play, the surface is still good and running on, although it is obviously very soft.” The tremendous entries response has resulted in the club placing players with handicaps of seven and higher on a waiting list because the course will not be able to handle a greater volume of players.

Last year, Uitenhage’s Sieg Human clinched his maiden EP Order of Merit victory at this event and is expected to be among the frontrunners. Names to watch out for include Ray Taverner, Naldo Claassen, Mzuyanda Zingela and the ever-improving Fezekile Kana.

THE draw for the Open on Sunday is: 1st tee: 7.07 11.30 B Wessels, A Nqana, Ralton Manuel; 7.14 11.37 A Hickman, W Kleyn D Konzani; 7.21 11.44 A Griebenow, K du Preez, C de Kock; 7.28 11.51 P Smith, M Zingela, C Baldie; 7.35 11.58 F Kana, P Rademeyer, G Calder; 7.42 12.05 R Taverner, W van Aswegan, K Stevens; 7.49 12.12 A van Staden, R Ferreira, S Brock; 7.56 12.19 G Gelderbloem, J Ludick, M Lloyd; 8.03 12.26 Rhalf Manuel, C Mavuso, S Human; 8.10 12.33 N Claassen, M Maybery, A Adam; 8.17 12.40 H Diederichs, S Jackson, J Marais

10th tee: 7.07 11.30 J Minnaar, N Mata, D Germishuys; 7.14 11.37 B Coenraad, D de Doncker, D Lai Lan; 7.21 11.44 P Totyi, C Anderson, M L Olivier; 7.28, 11.51 JP Malgas, G Manuel, R Rockman; 7.35 11.58 A Nzuzo, A Burger, E Dry; 7.42 12.05 M Foot, P Ludick, D Tam; 7.49 12.12 A Preston, V Walters, M Daniels; 7.56 12.19 T Polglase, W Cunningham, B Mbonambi; 8.03 12.26 T de Lange, JP Michau, M Olivier; 8.10 12.33 M Geldenhuys, G Fourie, J Coetzer; 8.17 12.40 N Heshu, M Price, W Muller; 8:24 12.47 J Madikane, M Nojuju, C Daniels