The accolades were pouring in for Pietersburg golfer Retief Goosen (20) after his 8 and 6 win over Kobus van den Berg in the final of the Grant Andrews Transvaal Amateur at Kempton Park CC on Saturday.

"Retief's an outstanding prospect - I'm confident he's going to have a great future in the game," said Transvaal Golf Union president Ceceil Wells.

"He's a superb player - and a real gentleman," responded Southern Transvaal president Peter Bridges who refereed the first 18 holes of the final.

"Retief's got a classic swing; he's in Ernie Els's class," added TGU senior vice-president Colin Muligan.

Goosen's victory comes hot on the heels of his explosive golf this year in the Northern Transvaal Open - when he was 13-under-par - and Western Transvaal Open, which he took with an astonishing 17-under-par return.

He also took the Northern Transvaal Closed title.

Goosen's meteoric rise is that much more impressive in that he was nearly killed in a lightning accident on the Pietersburg course several years ago. He was badly injured and it tool plenty of courage and determination to come back to the game.

The Star - Monday, April 10, 1989

Apr 10, 1989