Veteran club professional Jannie Botha, a member at Kyalami CC who teaches at the Golf Place driving range in Fourways, reclaimed the SA PGA Professional Championship at Royal Johannesburg in May, having previously won the event at Centurion Golf Club in 2024.

Tandi McCallum won the ladies division, successfully retaining the title she won last year as a rookie teaching professional.

Botha, who grew up in Tzaneen and learnt to play with some of Limpopo's top amateurs under the eye of former touring pro Wallie Coetsee, has been a qualified professional for 16 years and began his coaching career seven years before that.

Botha started the second round poorly and attributes his change of form to gaining control of his emotions.

'It was on the West Course and I was three-over after four holes, with all three drops being when attempting to hole out for par. After that I got control of my emotions and focused on what needed to be done and made five birdies in the following seven holes. And the rest was history.'

Botha went on to win by two shots. 'It was actually funny... I was so focused on Calvin Caldeira, my playing partner. He was the man to beat in my mind. He won both the last two events before the professional championships. And he shot a new course record at Krugersdorp Golf Club of 60 gross, 12-under-par, like a month before as well.

'I didn't think about anyone else, the conditions were tough, very windy and the course played long due to all the rain the week before and the 36mm that came down on Tuesday in the first round. Man, was it wet.'

So on the 15th hole in the final round Botha took a look at the online leaderboard and saw he was leading by five shots with four holes to go. After making par on 18, he discovered that up ahead Jake Roos had been making a late charge with birdies on the last three holes to close to within two shots of Botha, although the scoreboard had not yet been updated.

'Things could have been different if I had known… luckily it all worked out,' said a relieved Botha.

He was quick to praise the influence of Master Professional Martin Briede at Royal Johannesburg CC.

'He has done a lot for me in the last 10 years as a mentor, coach and friend. He got me my first PGA professional championship win in 2024, that also got me into the Four Nations cup team to represent SA. And my second win this year. I am the first guy in for the team again and next year we are representing SA in New Zealand. And for that I will be forever grateful.

'He is an awesome human being and teacher; I always call him my guru.

'To get your name on the Denis Hutchinson Trophy is an amazing achievement... to have it on twice is a dream come true. Denis is still involved in growing the game in his 90's and to be present at the ceremony and prizegiving, handing over the trophy, is out of this world.'

Meanwhile Tandi McCallum, who is attached to Country Club Johannesburg, working at the academy and teaching as part of John Dickson's team, completed a back-to-back win in the ladies side of the event.

Well known for her exploits over the past 17 years on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, McCallum admitted that her form hadn't been the greatest this year, so she was delighted that it all clicked at the right time.

Feeding off the calm of playing partner and former colleague Tyrone Russo for the first two rounds put her in the right frame of mind for the title defence.

'He just doesn't get flustered... I've never seen someone hit a bad shot and remain so calm,' said McCallum.

One of the key moments of the round came on the final hole of the West Course on the Wednesday. Conditions had been brutal, the course was playing long, it was cold and the pins had been tucked in awkward positions on the greens, which were running fast.

'I hit a great hybrid out of a down-in-rough lie, a jumpy lie. It ran up to just short of the green and gave me about a 20-footer for an eagle opportunity.

'So that was a really great shot because you know when you feel your round has just not gone your way and it's been frustrating. It was a nice bounce back to kickstart the next day and play the final round on the East Course. I think it just gave me a really good vibe before I started that final round.'

Having completed her studies in 2024 and last year being her first year of eligibility, McCallum won the ladies event at San Lameer with only four men finishing in front of her. Successfully defending the championship was very satisfying.

As a wife and mother of a six-year-old, McCallum has a lot on her plate given that she's now teaching, playing on the Ladies tour and also commentating for SuperSport on the men's Sunshine Tour.

'I love the game; the challenge it presents. And I really feel that if you have fun doing what you are doing, you do not work a day in your life. I have so much fun teaching new golfers and helping other golfers get to their next level; and I still love competing.'

Her one regret is never having had the chance to play with her father who died when she was 14 – and she only really took the game up in the years after he died.

But there's a big group of supporters who still follow her playing career, including a large WhatsApp group – included among them is the Srixon Cleveland brand through Louise Cooper in a relationship that goes back 22 years, while Puma have provided her outfits for the past six years. And Dubai-based financial group Royal Cut have also come on board to cover some of the logistical costs involved in playing on the local tour.

TROY WINFIELD | TYRONE WINFIELD | SA PGA