Heron Banks held its first Sunshine Tour event Jan 16-19, the Mediclinic Invitational, and the pros were blessed with perfect weather. It’s normally a breezy layout on the Vaal River, which helps defend the course, but there was no wind. Greens were outstanding and yet not that quick because of how wet they had been. A winning score of 24-under 260 (par 71) compares with 25-under 263 at Maccauvlei in last year’s tournament. 58 pros were under par and average score 69.82. Two holes stood out. The 455m seventh guarded by bush on both sides of the fairway was fearsome, averaging 4.49, and the 455m 16th with water right and bush left 4.29. Heron had two par 4s, 6 and 13, where players were tempted to drive the green. No 13 is 310 uphill with water left of the green, so a dangerous hole. There were 3 eagles and 124 birdies, while at the sixth (320) there were 3 eagles and 117 birds. Austrian winner Max Steinlechner had 29 birds and one eagle. He was 14-under for the 5s, but most remarkably had six 2s on the five 3s, playing them 6-under. Keith Horne had a course record 62 on Sunday with 10 birdies.
