Phiwakahle Picked for IPT

One of the top players in the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) programme in KwaZulu-Natal, Phiwakahle Mkhoma, has been selected to represent his province at the u/18 inter-provincial tournament in Bloemfontein in December. The event is the premier competition for junior golfers in South Africa and is run by the SA Junior Golf Foundation.

Phiwakahle finished in eighth position on the KZN u/18 order of merit to secure his selection to the team. He is a member of Port Shepstone Country Club and currently plays off scratch handicap.

"The good news is that the KZN team will have two players of colour selected purely on merit this year," says SAGDB development manager Joseph Kunene. "The other is Leorin Pillay, a member of Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation who will be representing KZN for second time in a row."

Phiwakahle is currently in Grade 12 at Melowood Secondary School. He is also a member of the KZN President's team that plays in the province's scratch league. He is yet to lose a game in this competition.

Over the course of the year, he has secured a number of excellent results in a range of events in KZN. He finished fifth in the 2009 David Suddards Championships played at Durban Country Club, where he carded rounds of 72 and 76, and was the runner-up in the 2009 Port Shepstone Country Club Champs. He shot 72 and 73 to finish just one shot behind the winner.

He won the 2009 Prentice Memorial Trophy played at Royal Durban GC in April and broke 80 in every round he played at Junior Golf Foundation events during the June/July school holidays.

The SAGDB is immensely proud of Phiwakahle's achievements and wishes him every success in Bloemfontein later this year.