George Herald | Aubrey Kok’s gamble pays off in Glacier

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Aubrey Kok’s gamble pays off in Glacier
07:00 (GMT+2), Thu, 05 July 2012

Glacier Junior Series A-division winner Aubrey Kok (right) with Joseph Phiri from Dale Hayes Golf Events, representing tournament host Louis Oosthuizen.

SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - Audrey Kok had a taste of the Glacier Junior Series National Final last year and he wanted to be in this year's final so badly, that he spent weeks convincing his father that a vacation in the Southern Cape was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Of course, the 18-year-old Woodhill golfer had a plan. It involved Mossel Bay Golf Club and the 15th tournament in the popular series sponsored by Glacier by Sanlam and hosted by 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen.

With most of the country's top juniors involved in a national championship in Pretoria, the resourceful teenager hoped to take advantage of a 'weaker field'.

Admittedly, it was a plan fraught with risk, but Kok held up brilliantly under the pressure. He carded a five-over-par 77 to win by one stroke from Heinrich Germishuys and Dawid Opperman. Breathing a huge sigh of relief, Kok admitted that he took a huge gamble - one that nearly back-fired.

Kok was still four-over at the turn, but gave up just one more shot over the homeward nine. Although a one stroke victory was a little close for comfort, victory is all that matters and Kok said the pay-off was worth it.

"I had to do a lot of negotiating and arm-twisting with my dad to get here, but he finally understood," said Kok. "I'm 18 this year, so this is my last chance to qualify for the National Final."

At the final he will line up alongside the other 24 finalists to compete for an all expenses-paid trip to tee it up at the 2012 Orange Bowl Junior Invitational in the United States.

Results:
A-division (1-6 handicap): 1 Aubrey Kok 77 gross; 2 Heinrich Germishuys 78 gross (on count out); 3 Dawid Opperman 78 gross (on count out). Best Nett: Brenden Pieters 75.

B-division (7-18 handicap): 1 Gordy Beckenstrater 85 (on count out); 2 Schalk Pieterse 85 gross; 3 Daniel Heneck 86 gross. Best Nett: Virgill April 76.

C-division (19-36 handicap): 1 Jan Human 35 points; 2 Malcolm Hamilton 33 pts; 3 Hugo Lombard 32 pts