Ahead of the 56-hole Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament which tees off on Thursday, 26 September at Port Elizabeth’s Humewood Golf course, 36 pros and their amateur partners enjoyed two rounds of golf during the pro-am element of the event.
‘I got to play with three pros,’ said Willie Blundin, having played with Brittney-Fay Berger, Jaco Prinsloo and Graeme Sauls. Bludin’s enthusiasm was amplified because of the relaxed atmosphere the pros helped create.
‘The pros have been amazing,’ praised Stefan Janse van Vuuren. ‘They’ve been happy to chat and have helped us with advice and coaching tips, too.’
‘Vodacom Origins of Golf was an awesome experience,’ Megan McCallum reflected. ‘Playing with the pros, seeing the shots they play and their putting in particular, it was awesome. My pro, Callum Mowat, helped me a lot with my putting. The pros are actually really down-to-earth people.’
For the professionals the serious action starts on on Thursday this week.
The pro-am was not without its competitive benefits, however.
‘Yesterday the wind blew from the opposite direction to today,’ said Heinrich Bruiners. ‘It was great to be able to play a round in each of the prevailing wind directions, because the wind looks like it’s going to blow over the weekend. So, playing the pro-am in the wind will help then.’
Along with the individual prizes for the straightest drive and the closest to the pin on the par-three 6th, the thirty-six teams contested the pro-am in a better-ball format. The winning team was made up of pro CJ du Plessis and amateur Pierre Meyer. Meyer plays off a nine handicap which helped the pair to an impressive 19 under par for the 36 holes.
Their closest rivals were Stephen Ferreira and Ernst Kriek, who shot 88 overall for the two rounds, three behind Du Plessis and Meyer. Riekus Norjie and Angelo Brooks finished the Vodacom Origin of Golf Humewood in third after two rounds.
The next round of the Vodacom Origin of Golf pro-am series takes place at the Stellenbosch Golf Course on 1 and 2 October.
After the winds of Port Elizabeth, the professional golfers will be looking forward to the golf in the Winelands.
Final scorecard:
| Players | Score | R1 | R2 | Total | |
| 1 | C Du Plessis (0) & P Meyer (9) | -19 | 45 | 46 | 91 |
| 2 | S Ferreira (0) & E Kriek (9) | -16 | 43 | 45 | 88 |
| 3 | R Nortje (0) & A Brooks (13) | -14 | 43 | 43 | 86 |
| 3 | J Strydom (0) & B Spilkin (14) | -14 | 40 | 46 | 86 |
| 5 | H Bruiners (0) & G Koen (5) | -13 | 44 | 41 | 85 |
| 5 | D McGuigan (0) & S Keevy (9) | -13 | 41 | 44 | 85 |
| 5 | M Bremner (0) & F Snijmann (6) | -13 | 42 | 43 | 85 |
| 8 | J Blaauw (0) & W Henen (13) | -12 | 44 | 40 | 84 |
| 9 | C Basson (0) & J Johnson (12) | -11 | 43 | 40 | 83 |
| 9 | A De Kock (0) & N Jones (22) | -11 | 43 | 40 | 83 |
| 9 | D Van Tonder (0) & C Snyders (11) | -11 | 43 | 40 | 83 |
| 9 | T Thimba Jnr (0) & P Hanekom (11) | -11 | 39 | 44 | 83 |
| 9 | M Viljoen (0) & M King (6) | -11 | 41 | 42 | 83 |
