Scene Setter
The 63rd edition of the South African Premier Interprovincial Tournament takes place from the 16th to the 20th of September at Stellenbosch Golf Club and the 8-man Western Province side will be chasing their 19th title at the country’s flagship team event.
Central Gauteng are the defending champions having pipped Eastern Province 36.5-35.5 on game points at East London Golf Club last year.
WP will be eager to improve upon their third-place finish a year ago and secure a third title in four years.
The Course
The Par-72 track offers up plenty of scoring opportunities as evidenced by WP Manager Werner Theart’s remarks about the approach he’ll be encouraging his charges to employ.
“Stellenbosch is a great matchplay course, I think it’s a course where you’re going to have to shoot good numbers to win your game,” said Theart.
“You can hit it off-line and still manage to make par or birdie from anywhere on the course I suppose and with the weather we’ve had in Cape Town this Winter they’ve lost a number of trees which has made a big difference to a lot of the holes.
“I think the boys must just go out and play very positive golf, it’s not that type of course where you’re going to shoot level-par and probably win your game.”ย ย
The Team
The 2024 side is a terrific blend of youth and experience. Led by the experienced Andrew Georgiou of Erinvale Golf Club, five rookies will take their place in the side. However, they all boast a wealth of IPT experience having represented WP at either age-group, Challenge IPT or both.
The nucleus of the Western Province side which coasted to victory at the 2024 Challenge IPT played at Metropolitan Golf Club will tee it up for the Premier IPT side too. The Travis Procter-led Challenge IPT Champions also featured Dan Copeman, Mitch Phigeland, Andries van der Vyfer and Henru Walters so the quintet will no doubt draw on those winning feelings during the coming week.
Western Province IPT Side – Player number in brackets:
Dan Copeman (#164, rookie), Cole Cruickshank (#165, rookie), Shaun Le Roux (#157, 4th appearance), Mitch Phigeland (#166, rookie), Travis Procter (#161, 2nd appearance), Andries van der Vyfer (#167, rookie), Henru Walters (#168, rookie), Andrew Georgiou (#155, 4th appearance). Team Manager: Werner Theart (Bellville Golf Club, 9 X Western Province representative)
Click the link below to get to know each player in just 5-Minutes!
WP & The IPT
Western Province has a proud South African Premier IPT record having won the event on 18 occasions, most recently in 2022.
It so happens that the union seems to embark upon periods of extended dominance having won three straight titles from 1996-1998, 2002-2004 and also enjoying victories in 2008, 2010 and 2012.
The side has accounted for two of the four IPTs contested this decade having won at San Lameer in 2021 before retaining the trophy at Koro Creek the following year.
In Werner Theart they have a manager who is accustomed to ending the week with the coveted trophy as Theart was part of winning teams in 2008, 2010 and 2012, captaining the 08′ and 12′ teams.
Western Province Fixtures
Monday, 16 September: Western Province v North West
Tuesday, 17 September: Western Province v Ekhuruleni
Wednesday, 18 September: Western Province v Eastern Province
Thursday 19 September: Western Province v Central Gauteng
Friday 20 September: Western Province v Southern Cape
Final Thoughts
Keep your eyes peeled for our daily tournament reports and interviews with the WP side flying the flag at Stellenbosch GC.ย