Wednesday, 18th April 2007 at 6:26 pm

Vodacom Origins underway

No, we don’t have a clue how to pronounce his name either - but J’be Kruger is leading a youthful charge at the opening event of the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Arabella Country Estate, the backbone series of the Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit. A splendid qualifying round has him amongst the main pack for the competition proper, but while he’ll be amongst those with an outside shout at victory, it’s the amateur field that has attracted most attention.

But it’s the celebrity field of amateurs that has attracted the most attention, Origins organiser Thomas Abt having pulled some big names out of the hat. Take former Portuguese midfielder Adrian de Souza, for instance (married to Will and Grace star Fiona de Souza), or Springbok hardman Robbie Kempson. Celebrity sports commentator Matt Pearce is in the field, as is big hitting Sean Hansen, head of Taylor Made South Africa. Throw in the best of South Africa’s burgeoning golf talent, and you’ve quite a week at Arabella - and with De Souza, Kempson, Pearce and Hansen on show, no small bar bill for Vodacom to take care of.