EAST LONDON, 5 January 2010 - A friendly chat between two Eastern Cape natives paid off handsome dividends for local rookie Mark Fensham, who will tee it up at the 2010 Africa Open at East London Golf Club on Thursday.
Fensham, a former Grey High school pupil and the grandson of former United Cricket Board president Geoff Dakin, caught up with fellow pro James Kamte during the Ernie Els Invitational at Fancourt in December.
In the ensuing conversation, the 26-year-old mentioned to his long-time friend that he would pre-qualify for the €1-million European Tour co-sanctioned event this week.
“I went up to the terrace and met up with a lot of friends that used to play junior golf with me, including Branden (Grace) and James,” said Fensham, who gained his Sunshine Tour card after at Vaal de Grace and Parys Golf Clubs.
“We got chatting and he congratulated me on getting my Tour card. I told him I was looking forward to the Africa Open and I would obviously have to qualify at Fish River.
“He got up from the table, walked away and got onto his phone. He came back and told me secured me an invite into the Africa Open. I couldn’t believe it, I was like ‘you must be joking’,” added Fensham, who was still beaming from ear-to-ear yesterday.
It was Kamte’s close relationship with tournament chief executive Khaya Ngcula that sealed the deal for Fensham.
“I know that Khaya has a great passion to develop future champions and mentioned to him that Mark had just gained his card and was an Eastern Cape local. Khaya didn’t hesitate for a minute to give Mark a chance and it was great to be the bearer of such good news,” said Kamte, a three-time winner in South Africa and the 2009 Asian International champion.
Fensham is looking forward to going head-to-head with the big boys.
“It’s a great opportunity and a blessing. First professional tournament and you get straight into it. It’s also a European Tour co-sanctioned event so if I can do really nicely and play well, it just really helps.”
Ncgula said he was thrilled to have an opportunity to make the Africa Open a potential breeding ground for future stars.
“The Africa Open is first and foremost a tournament to provide South African players a platform to gain experience and to mould future champions. We feel privileged that we are in a position to provide spots for up-and-coming players like Mark Fensham,” said Ngcula.
The remaining invitations were allocated to Martin Wiegele, Joakim Haeggman, Garry Houston, Tjaart van der Walt, Wayne Westner, Scott Dunlap, Stuart Anderson, Niall Kearney and Paolo Pinto
Meanwhile Callie Burger and another new rookie in Daniel Greene topped the leaderboard in the qualifier.
Both players carded one-under-par 71, followed by a group of five players one shot behind them including Zimbabwe’s Ryan Cairns and South Africans Mervyn Galant, Christian Ries, Andrew Georgiou and PH McIntyre.
The final three spots, determined in a play-off between the eight players tied on 73, were snapped up by England’s Justin Walters and South Africans Johan du Buisson and Anthony Michael.
Tickets for the 2010 Africa Open from 7-10 January are available at the gate and entry for pensioners and children under 18 is free for all tournament days. Adults enter for free on Thursday, 7 and Friday, 8 January and tickets cost R20,00 per day on the weekend.
Qualifying round scores (RSA unless specified):
71 - Callie Burger, Daniel Greene
72 - Mervyn Galant, Christian Ries, Ryan Cairns (ZIM), Andrew Georgiou, PH McIntyre
73 - Justin Walters (ENG), Johan du Buisson, Anthony Michael
73 - Ali Tsai (TPE)
73 - Derik Ferreira
73 - Andre Bossert (SUI), Steven Ferreira
73 - Francois van Vuuren
74 - Kenneth Dube, Mohamed Tayob, David Hewan, Michael Dreyer, Vaughn Groenewald, Grant Veenstra, Jake Redman, Ivan van Onselen
75 - Neil Cheetham (ENG), Callie Swart, Josh Cunliffe, Alain Norris, Le Roux Ferreira, Marius Schutte
76 - PG van Zyl, Matthew Carvell, Ben Mannix (ENG), Ben Fouchee, Trevor Mahoney, Michael Scholz, Mark Williams, Andre Ferreira
77 - Nicol van Wyk, Adrian Ford, Mikhail Tewary, Coenie Stoop, Darryn Lloyd, Roy Mugglestone (ENG), Dewald Smit, Colin Nel, Walter Els
78 - Mohammad Rauf Mandhu (ZIM), Garry Hill, Jeff Inglis (ENG), Ross Wellington, Cameron Esau
79 - Divan du Piesanie, Jon Bethwaite, Attie Schwartzel, Nicholas MacDonald (ZIM), Cameron Johnston, Michael du Toit, Danie van Niekerk (Jnr), Hendrik Buhrmann, Louis Calitz, Ben Hatchwell (CAN)
80 - Chris Corry (ENG)
81 - Justin Blanckenberg, Edrich Jansen
82 - Gerhard Trytsman, Ryan Clarke, Sean McDonagh (ENG), Ryan Stopford, Shaun Ellis
83 - Heinrich Bruiners, Chris Erasmus, Irvin Mazibuko, Algy Kietzmann
84 - Dylan Docherty, Alan Michell, Alpheus Kelapile, Yngve Nilsson, Morne Buys
85 - Divan van den Heever, Gary Baynham
86 - Jason de Gama, Taymen Erasmus
87 - Michael McGrady, Roberto Lupini
88 - Alexandre Chopard (SUI)
89 - Hilton Appel, Dean Burmester
91 - Patrick Snyman
92 - Justin Harding
DSQ - Jack Kutumane, Stuart Clark (WAL), David le Roux, Rocky Tlhabanyane
For more information, please visit http://www.africaopengolf.com
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