Abnormal storms and torrential rain across KZN played havoc with the conditions for play throughout the championship, but the golfers accepted the adverse golfing conditions as ‘par for the course’, kept their heads down and their eyes fixed on the trophy at stake.
Determination, perseverance and the ‘drive to win’ for TEAM South Africa culminated in a well deserved home victory in D Division for Andries Claassens who made the team for the second year in a row, and a 3rd placing for Babs Narsiah in the C Division. Sixteen-year-old sensation, Jessica Dreesbeimdieke from Namibia, brought the ‘girl power’ back to the A Division with her win, making it the second consecutive year that this flight has been won by a lady.
The WGI saw a dominating presence from the eastern countries throughout the championship with Sweden taking the trophy home for 2012. Close on their heels in second place was AM Bank 2 from Malaysia with Malaysia 1 claiming the third place on the podium.
In memory of the endearing, loving and kind spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that the founder of World Golfers Championship, Sven Tumba brought to the world of golf, the Sven Tumba Spirit Trophy is awarded to the team that embraces this same philosophy. This year, the ladies from Namibia return home with the trophy in recognition of their enthusiasm, playing the championship with a positive attitude and total compliance on all requirements.
In a further tribute to the vision of Sven Tumba to develop numeracy and literacy through sport, MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu, together with World Golf Events South Africa handed over a cheque for R100 000 to the Sven Tumba Education Fund in commitment to Sven’s legacy that every child has the right to grow up with love, with play, with sports and above all with education.
Commenting on the province’s hosting of The 18th Amateur World Golfers Championship, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Michael Mabuyakhulu, said, “In view that most of the golfers are people with premier standings in their respective countries and the world over, we see them as our social partners and ambassadors that will emerge out of this event with beautiful stories to share about KwaZulu-Natal with fellow compatriots and friends who consider visiting and investing in the province.”
Nils Nordh, CEO and Chairman of World Golfers Championship, said, “I am proud to report that the high standard of organisation and facilities has once again been achieved and that South Africa has been the perfect location for new golfers to the championship to tee-off for the first time.”
Craig Clay-Smith, spokesperson for World Golf Events South Africa, the local event owners and organisers, said, “The success and international acclaim for this year’s event is attributed to the joint collaboration of World Golf Events SA, Tourism Kwazulu-Natal, Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal and the Department of Economic Development & Tourism, lead by the visionary MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu MPP and his unwavering support and belief in golf as a sport that promotes tourism and closes the divide between cultural diversity. A further thanks also goes out to Tsogo Sun for coming on board as the new host accommodation partner and to the Independent Newspaper Group and Business Report for their fantastic media coverage.”
The final results of The 18th Amateur World Golfers Championship are as follows:
CHAMPIONSHIP
The top 3 countries
| 1st | Malaysia | 1191 Nett | |
| 2nd | Indonesia | 1230 Nett | |
| 3rd | South Africa 1 | 1243 Nett |
0-5 Flighting
| 1st | Jessica Dreesbeimdieke | Namibia | 300 Nett |
| 2nd | Vikkash Babu | Singapore | 306 Nett |
| 3rd | Nguyen Ngoc Bao | Vietnam | 307 Nett |
6-10 Flighting
| 1st | Pakhrudin Adb Majid | Malaysia | 291 Nett |
| 2nd | Butrinov Audrey | Russia | 304 Nett |
| 3rd | Sergey Gayduk | Armenia | 308 Nett |
11-15 Flighting
| 1st | F Wangdduoli | China | 294 Nett |
| 2nd | Wilna Bredenhann | Namibia | 303 Nett |
| 3rd | Babs Narsiah | South Africa | 306 Nett |
16-20 Flighting
| 1st | Andries Claassens | South Africa | 294 Nett |
| 2nd | Leornard Kim | Indonesia | 295 Nett |
| 3rd | Zainal Abidin Ujud | Malaysia | 299 Nett |
21-25 Flighting
| 1st | Chiang Sooi Yee | Malaysia | 289 Nett |
| T2nd | F Xuhong | China | 303 Nett |
| T2nd | Soh Seow Poh | Singapore | 303 Nett |
INVITATIONAL
The top 3 countries
| 1st | Sweden 1 | 597 Nett | |
| 2nd | AM Bank Malaysia 2 | 610 Nett | |
| 3rd | Malaysia 1 | 625 Nett |
0-5 Flighting
| 1st | Leif Jansson | Sweden | 310 Nett |
| 2nd | Hans Lichtenberg | Vietnam | 312 Nett |
| 3rd | Sue Dieners | Germany | 317 Nett |
6-10 Flighting
| 1st | Patrik Hogland | Sweden | 287 Nett |
| 2nd | Jari Siebenberg | Finland | 310 Nett |
| 3rd | Isac Saminathan | Malaysia | 311 Nett |
11-15 Flighting
| 1st | Farroul Hossey Adbullah | Malaysia | 314 Nett |
| 2nd | Hans Borgstrom | Sweden | 318 Nett |
| 3rd | Tomas Llanza Ortiz | Spain | 320 Nett |
16-20 Flighting
| 1st | Hamden A Rahman | Malaysia | 302 Nett |
| 2nd | Khamsiah Ahmad | Malaysia | 308 Nett |
| 3rd | Shaharudin Ismail | Malaysia | 310 Nett |
21-25 Flighting
| 1st | Indri Pietoyo | Indonesia | 320 Nett |
| 2nd | Krzysztof Materna | Poland | 326 Nett |
| 3rd | Sebastian Cheng Chee Yin | Singapore | 329 Nett |
26-30 Flighting
| 1st | Jason Dinata | Indonesia | 316 Nett |
| 2nd | Pawel Kubicki | Poland | 329 Nett |
| 3rd | Wlodzimierz Bryla | Poland | 332 Nett |
