THERE was a stunning turnout of 182 players for the Victory Cup presented by 43 Air School at the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club (RPAGC) last weekend.
Winning the cup were the pair of Meekah de Sousa and Andrew Meyer with a score of 52.
It was a tough call for second place with four pairs carding 49, so by a count-out second place went to Viv Jordan and Greg Shaw, third to Kevin Heny and Spook Hanley, fourth to Clint Roesstorff and Jayden Roesstorff and fifth to Dave Dower and Andy Sherwood.
The annual golf day is a fundraiser for the benevolence work of the SA Air Force Association (Saafa).
Chairman of the Port Alfred Saafa branch, Hugh Holmes, gave a brief history of the Victory Cup Golf Day, which has been played every year since the end of World War 2 in 1945.
During the war, 43 Air School was one of many units run by the Royal Air Force which trained pilots, navigators, air gunners and other crew. At one stage there were more than 4 000 personnel at the base.
“You can imagine the influence they had on the town of Port Alfred,” Holmes said.
“In 1945 after the surrender of Japan (VJ Day), the air school presented the Victory Cup to the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club to commemorate that day and the cup has been played for ever since then.”
The day has always been a fun day and a legend has been passed down that the first fourball teed off in top hats and tails, having just arrived from the Old Year’s eve dance.
About five years ago Saafa was asked to join forces with the current management of 43 Air School and turn the day into a fundraising event for Saafa’s benevolence work on behalf of members who have fallen on hard times.
“We thank you for your very generous contribution to the success of the day,” Holmes told the assembled players at the prize giving.
He thanked the groundsmen and green keeper for their magnificent job in keeping the course in such good condition, RPAGC manager Corrie van Zyl for all his hard work, Koos van Rensburg and his staff at 43 Air School, and the Saafa ladies who manned the tables.
He also thanked the hole sponsors – Vodacom, Mr Water Yamaha, Best Drive, Kenrich Motors, Harcourts and Tag Solvent Product, which sponsored four holes. Prizes were donated by Pick n Pay, the Pig and Whistle, Royal St Andrews Hotel, and both branches of Buco in town.
Sibuya Game Reserve donated a day trip for two as a lucky draw, which was won by John Rogers. Ockie Pieterse was the lucky soul who won the liquor hamper. Dean Cooper won the whisky draw and Alan Corrans the wine draw.
There was also a fundraising auction of paintings of World War 2 era fighter planes by Grahamstown artist Nicolas Trudgian. Rob Knowles of Talk of the Town served as auctioneer and the six paintings sold for a combined total of R2 750.
