UK golfer Mark Vandenberghe enjoyed the day of his life on The Links at Fancourt on Friday when he partnerned South Africa’s Retief Goosen and Lee Slattery of England to victory in the Volvo World Golf Challenge.
For the last two days, the World Golf Final itself has been played at the nearby Montague course at Fancourt with the top 18 finishers in the 55-strong amateur field qualifying to play with the professionals during Friday’s second round of the Volvo Golf Champions itself.
At the end of an enthralling day on The Links, 50 year old Vandenberghe, Goosen and Slattery finished on top with a combined 18 under par total of 128, three shots clear of the professional duo of Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel, England’s Simon Dyson and Austrian amateur Henning Frech.
“I was very conscious that this is Retief and Lee’s job and this is my hobby so I tried my best not to get in their way,” said Vandenberghe. “But both the guys made me feel very comfortable and which was great. Absolutely great.”
Vandenberghe, a proud owner of a Volvo XC60, was thrilled to see his partners drive off in a Volvo V60 each as their reward for winning the team event.
Goosen said: “How great is this? I didn’t even have to make a hole-in-one.” The other 33 professionals in the field can still win their own Volvo V60...all that is required, is an ace at the par-three 17th in rounds three or four this weekend.
