SAGDB team to play against Scotland

A team of nine past and present SA Golf Development Board players has been chosen to represent the country's development programme in a match against Scotland later this month. The match, which will also include a team of top juniors from the SA Junior Golf Foundation (SAJGF), will be played on 14 and 15 March at Houghton Golf Club.

The players represent some of the best talent unearthed and nurtured by the SAGDB over the past ten years.

The team will be captained by KwaZulu-Natal's Calvin Coelho. The 22-year old currently plays off a +4 handicap and is a member of the Royal Durban Golf Club. He has represented the KZN u23 team for the past three years and is currently a member of the SA Golf Association's national squad.

Calvin will be joined by fellow KZN player, Phiwakahle Mkhoma. The 18-year old, who plays off +2, is a member of the Port Shepstone Country Club. Last year he played in the number position for the KZN team at the SAJGF inter provincial tournament.

Three players from Boland have been included in the team - Mark Mahoney, Cedric Rooi and Jacquin Hess.

Mark is the oldest player in the squad at 27. He was one of the first youngsters to graduate from the SAGDB's programme and has twice represented South Africa since 2003. The two handicapper was a member of both the Boland inter provincial team and the SA Police team last year.

21-year old Cedric also enjoyed a highly successful year in 2009, being chosen for the Boland u23 team, the SA University team and the Boland President's team. He currently plays off a scratch handicap and was the SAGDB's best player in his final year in the programme in 2007.

Jacquin, now 20-years old, took over that mantle when he was the board's top player in 2008. He also currently plays off scratch and joined Cedric in the SA Universities, Boland u23 and Boland President's teams last year.

The remaining four members of the squad are all from the SAGDB's highly successful programme in the Free State. 22-year old Tumo Motaung, 21-year old Makhetha Mazibuko, 20-year old Neo Thubisi and 17-year old Mojalefa Xaba have all benefited from the hard-working coaches in that region.

Makhetha, who plays off a +1 handicap, and Tumo, who is a scratch handicapper, were both members of the Free State u23 team last year. Makhetha was also a member of the Free State President's team.

Mojalefa, who plays off 1, is currently the SAGDB's top player in the Free State. The 17-year old is the youngest player in the squad and as such, this will be a wonderful learning experience for him.

The Scottish team's tour to South Africa was arranged by the SAGDB's honorary president, Mr. Johann Rupert, and also includes a test match against South Africa at Leopard Creek.

About the SAGDB
Founded in 1999, the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) is the only body officially tasked with growing the game of golf in South Africa. The SAGDB is a non-profit organisation (with section 18A donations tax exemption status) and is fully endorsed by government and all of South Africa's official golfing bodies. Through its PGA-approved coaching programme, the board currently has the capacity to coach 3,500 children per week in ten regions. The SAGDB is sponsored by SAA, City Lodge, the Pro Shop and ProRange.