Press Releases
Slabbert wins Nedbank SA Disabled Open
Michael Vlismas
LANGEBAAN, West Coast (11 May 2011) – Daniel Slabbert claimed his first
major victory in the Nedbank SA Disabled Open at the Langebaan Country Estate
on Wednesday, realising a dream that he once thought had ended when he lost his
leg in an accident six years ago.
The 20-year-old from the mining town of Kathu in the Northern Cape closed with
a 76 in a bitterly cold and wet final round to win by two strokes on 238.
Iglin Grobbelaar finished second on 240 following an 81, and was denied the
chance to claim a hat-trick of national Open titles. Christo de Jager and
Reinard Schuhknecht shared third place on 254.
Starting the round three strokes behind Grobbelaar, Slabbert drew level with
his opponent on the 15th. Then on the 16th, he made bogey to hand Grobbelaar a
one-stroke lead.
But the tournament was decided on the par-four 17th. Grobbelaar made a double
bogey while Slabbert holed a six-foot putt for birdie, giving him the
two-stroke lead he carried to the end.
“I thought I had lost the tournament on 16. But I held it together. The 17th
was a big swing, and then I just parred the last to win,” said Slabbert.
“It feels unbelievable to win this. Before my accident, I had thoughts of
becoming a professional golfer. So to win something like this is a dream come
true for me.”
Slabbert was 14 when he suffered the freak accident on his parents’ farm near
Kathu. “I was jumping on a trampoline alongside the farm house. I landed
slightly off balance, and it shot me towards this small window. My left leg
went through the window, and that was it.”
Every major artery and tendon above his knee was severed. Slabbert was rushed
to the Kathu hospital, but they did not have enough blood for him. So they put
a heavily bleeding Slabbert into an ambulance and headed for Kuruman about 60km
away.
On the way there, the ambulance blew a tyre, wasting precious time. They
managed to get him the blood in time, and then transferred him to Kimberley
where he spent, amazingly, only six days in the hospital following an
amputation through his left knee.
Only three months later, Slabbert was back on the family farm and walking again
with his new prosthetic. And only six years later, he is one of the brightest
stars in South African disabled golf.
“With South African golf in such great shape at the moment, it’s wonderful to
see that golf for people with disabilities is up there as well. It’s inspiring
to see their determination,” said Andy Scott, Head: Nedbank Group Sponsorships.
Leading final scores from the 54-hole Nedbank SA
Disabled Open, played at the par-72 Langebaan Country Estate on Wednesday
(Players South African unless stated):
238 Daniel Slabbert 83 79 76
240 Iglin Grobbelaar 81 78 81
254 Christo de Jager 87 80 87, Reinard Schuhknecht 85 81 88
255 Ben van Zyl 79 89 87, Trevor Reich 85 85 85
Ends
(For more information please contact Michael Vlismas on 0027 72 242 8399)
Created: 11 May 2011 [Sports Events | Sport Personalities | Disability]