Giving is better than receiving, and Gary Player was – as always – in a giving mood on his 91st birthday on Sunday.
The Grand Slam golfer gave a quick lesson on the practice range that helped the team of Sunshine Tour professional James Mack, rugby star Kade Wolhuter, and business leaders Linda van der Nest and Rainier van der Nest claim victory in the Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational at the Lost City Golf Club.
A weekend of raising funds for the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation and its support of the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School was capped by an impressive final-round display from the champions as they took this title on 189 points.
It was a performance underpinned by the exceptional golf of Linda van der Nest, who had Gary Player to thank for it.
“This morning my swing was nowhere on the practice range. I thought my round was going to be a disaster. Mr Player showed me one or two things and said to just focus on that on the golf course. I did that, and my irons were on point,” said Van Der Nest, who was the standout amateur in her team with her 37 points on the final day.
“It was a fantastic two days on the golf course. We had such fun as a team. Whether we came first or last, we just knew it was going to be a great two days on the course together, and I think that’s why we did so well,” she said.
PHENOMENAL SUPPORT
Gary Player said he was humbled by the phenomenal support from the professional golfers, sports stars, celebrities and business leaders.
“The path to 91 is love. We have so much love here from all of you who take the time to be a part of this weekend with us, coming from all over the world. We want to keep working to raise funds for the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School and also for our teachers there, so that we can keep upskilling them to have an even greater impact on our next generation of South Africans,” he said.
The team of professional Graham van der Merwe, former football star Bongani Khumalo, businessman Mark Rowles and Sunshine Tour Commissioner Thomas Abt finished second on 185 points.
Professional Luke Brown, Springbok legend Steven Kitshoff, and businessmen Marco Barnard and Jeff Reiss took third place on 183 points.
But it was in the spirit of the weekend that every golfer appreciated the role they could play in helping to build a better South Africa, starting with better foundational phase education at the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School.
“The golf was just a bonus on top. It was wonderful to meet so many good golfers, but more importantly they’re all even better human beings,” said Mack.
© GVPI