Just two days after obliterating the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School by eight shots, Colin Nel blasted his way into the co-sanctioned Alfred Dunhill Championship by topping the pre-qualifier at Irene Golf Club.
Nel fired his third consecutive 67 in four days, to top the qualifier along with Henk Alberts and Wallie Coetsee on five under par, for his first entry into a European Tour co-sanctioned tournament as a professional – he played the 2005 SA Open as an amateur.
Nel attributed his current good form to his high levels of confidence, which he also likened to surfing a perfect wave.
“I’m riding a big wave of confidence,” said the young man from KwaZulu-Natal. “You know how us Durban boys are, and how we all love to surf.”
He has also been using his old equipment ever since his golf bag and car was stolen on the Saturday night before the Vodacom Business Origins of Golf final at Oubaai. He has since got new clubs but has not had time to practise with them so has elected to leave them in the cupboard for the meantime. Not a bad decision it seems.
Ryan Thompson, Derik Ferreira, Andrew Georgiou, and Kevin Stone all shared fourth spot on four-under par, while the last three spots went to Darryn Lloyd, Dean Burmester, and Louis Calitz after a six-man playoff on three-under par.
The three unlucky players to miss out in the playoff were Zimbabwe’s Mohammad Mandhu, Darren Blair, and Morne Buys. However, Buys did receive a sponsor’s invite and will be taking part in the championship this week.
But for Nel, this week is yet another step in the right direction as he prepares to return to Durban Country Club for the 100th SA Open next week. He is down to pre-qualify for the event, but being a KwaZulu-Natal local, all odds are once more in his favour as he knows both qualifying courses equally as well.
