Cricket legend Shaun Pollock teamed up with businessman Wessel Witthuhn to claim a maiden victory in the prestigious Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola at the Zimbali golf course on Sunday.
Winners all, George Coetzee, Mark James, Shaun Pollock and Wessel Witthuhn.l
The amateur duo, both residents of Zimabali with a sack full of local knowledge, used it superbly to secure a runaway victory in the alliance competition of this charity pro-am, finishing the 36 holes with a stunning 40-under-par winning total.
Their nearest challengers were the team of former rugby Springbok Breyton Paulse and businessman Ron Boon on 34-under.
Pollock and Witthuhn set the tone for their triumph with a score of 15-under in the windy Saturday conditions, and then added a 25-under in the far calmer conditions on Sunday.
They celebrated a double triumph as the professionals in their group, England senior golfer Mark James, a former European Ryder Cup captain, and South African professional, George Coetzee, won the betterball on a score of 19 under, with rounds of 64 and 61.
Jaco van Zyl and Ian Woosnam took second place in the betterball on 15 under.
"I know my way around this course and it was great to play with the professionals, and also help Mr Player raise money for charity.
"As professional sportsmen we have a great platform to help give something back," said Pollock, who played as virtually a third professional in their fourball off his scratch handicap.
"I made five birdies and an eagle on Sunday, so it was nice to contribute," he said.
Witthuhn was also delighted with his first victory in this event.
"Everybody asked if I was nervous playing with three such good golfers," said the 14 handicap. "But the nature of this tournament is that the people who play here are by their own nature also caring individuals who have time for an amateur like me."
Coetzee, taking a break from the European Tour, couldn't have asked for a more timeous victory as he prepares for a big summer in South Africa.
"I've got two big tournaments coming so this is good mental practice for me," he said.
He was also full of praise for the work done by this event to raise money for disadvantaged children in South Africa.
"It's been such a good tournament. What Gary Player does for us as golfers, and then also for charity and South Africa as a whole, is amazing. It's an honour to be part of something like this.
"Obviously I hope that one day I can achieve some of the success he did on the golf course, but more importantly that I can achieve as much as he has off the course as well."
Said Player afterwards: "I've never seen scoring in this event like we had at Zimbali this year. The course was fantastic. And Coca-Cola and all our sponsors have been amazing in their support of our drive to make a difference."
ALL THE FINAL SCORES
PROFESSIONALS BETTER BALL MEDAL (professionals only):
125 - Mark James & George Coetzee 64 61
129 - Ian Woosnam & Jaco van Zyl 64 65
131 - Sally Little & Peter Hanson 67 64; David Russell & Carly Booth 68 63
134 - Roger Wessels & Jesper Parnevik 69 65
135 - Tony Johnstone & Diana Luna 70 65
136 - Vincent Tshabalala & Lee-Anne Pace 69 67
135 - Gary Player & James Kamte 69 68
FOURBALL ALLIANCE (best two scores to count)
-40 Mark James; George Coetzee; Shaun Pollock; Wessel Witthuhn (-15; -25)
-34 Roger Wessels; Jesper Parnevik; Breyten Paulse; Ron Boon (-11; -23)
-30 Tony Johnstone; Diana Luna; Thomas Msengana; Alan Pearson (-7; -23)
-28 David Russell; Carly Booth; Kapil Dev; Greg Whittaker (-8; -20)
-24 Sally Little; Peter Hanson; Craig Joubert; Alex Maditsi (-6; -18)
-23 Ian Woosnam; Jaco van Zyl; Lucas Radebe; Dieter Schonfeld (-11;-12)
-21 Gary Player; James Kamte; Paul Collingwood; Claudia Schonfeld (-9; -12)
-15 Vincent Tshabalala; Lee-Anne Pace; Pierre Spies; Kevin McNally (-8;-7)
golf365.com