NATIONAL NEWS - Exactly 10 years since the Lions lifted the Swiss Teams Trophy, Ivanna Samu, Kaleigh Telfer and Woo-Ju Son closed out a wire-to-wire victory for Gauteng in the 72 Hole Teams Championship, while Border marched to a home victory in the Challenge Trophy under thunderous applause at East London Golf Club on Monday.
The all-junior Gauteng A side combined for earlier rounds of 146, 143 and 141 to carry an 11 stroke lead into the final round over Gauteng B.
Fourteen-year-old Son carded a 71 and reigning Sanlam SA Amateur Stroke Play champion Samu reeled in four birdies on the back nine of the par-73 championship layout for a 72 for a final round 143 and a winning tally of 11-under-par 573.
The A-team was well supported by the B-team, who took second place.
Eleonora Galletti, who shared the Individual Leaderboard honours with Samu on five under 287, partnered with Natasha Carlsson to produce rounds of 145, 147, 149 and 141 for a total score of two under 575.
Gill van der Meulen, who recently retired as president of Ladies Golf Gauteng, was absolutely thrilled with Gauteng’s victory.
“Ten years ago, we celebrated as our top juniors Ashleigh Simon, Stacy-Lee Bregman and Suzette Venter marched to victory at Rondebosch Golf Club,” Van der Meulen said.
“It has been a very long wait with a lot of close calls, and I am so proud of this young team that reaped the reward of all the long hours, hard work and dedication ahead of this year’s championship.
“Well done to our B-team for their runner-up finish and Rose Bishop, who did a great job as team manager.
CHALLENGE TROPHY
Meanwhile Zethu Myeki and sisters Siviwe and Yolanda Duma drummed home a 20 stroke victory over Ekurhuleni A to claim the Challenge Trophy title before an excited home crowd.
The local favourites lagged four strokes off the pace after an opening 160, but rallied with successive rounds of 140 to pull well clear of the field. Myeki carded a final round 74 and Siviwe Duma added a 79 for a final round 153 to finish on 601.
South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) Border regional manager Millie Zim-Dondashe managed the team and was ecstatic with the result.
“I’ve known all three girls since they first enrolled in the SAGDB programme as young girls, so this victory is a particularly emotional one for me,” Zim-Dondashe said.
“First the four of us won the SA Women’s Inter-Provincial B-Section title last year and now my three graduates outclassed everyone again in the other top prestigious team event.
Swiss Team Trophy – Final Result
573 Gauteng A 146 Ivanna Samu 72 Kaleigh Telfer 74; 143 Kaleigh Telfer 71 Ivanna Samu 72; 141 Woo-Ju Son 70 Ivanna Samu 71; 143 Woo-Ju Son 71 Ivanna Samu 72
582 Gauteng B 145 Eleonora Galletti 70 Natasha Carlsson 75; 147 Natasha Carlsson 73 Eleonora Galletti 74; 149 Eleonora Galletti 73 Natasha Carlsson 76; 141 Eleonora Galletti 70 Natasha Carlsson 71
587 Gauteng North A 151 Carrie Park 74 Danielle Du Toit 77; 146 Carrie Park 72 Danielle Du Toit 74; 150 Carrie Park 73 Marne Clack 77; 140 Danielle Du Toit 69 Carrie Park 71
591 Western Province A 150 Cara Gorlei 75 Ji Sun Kang 75; 150 Amy Henning 75 Ji Sun Kang 75; 144 Cara Gorlei 71 Ji Sun Kang 73; 147 Cara Gorlei 73 Ji Sun Kang 74
606 Boland A 151 Bianca Lohbauer 75 Bianca Theron 76; 150 Bianca Theron 74 Bianca Lohbauer 76; 150 Vicki Traut 74 Bianca Theron 76; 155 Bianca Lohbauer 77 Vicki Traut 78
615 Western Province B 152 Zayb Fredericks 75 Kelly Erasmus 77; 156 Zayb Fredericks 78 Kelly Erasmus 78; 156 Samantha Barber 77 Kelly Erasmus 79; 151 Samantha Barber 73 Kelly Erasmus 78
625 North West A 163 Mae Cornforth 80 Lindi Coetzee 83; 153 Mae Cornforth 73 Michelle Swanepoel 80; 158 Mae Cornforth 78 Michelle Swanepoel 80; 151 Mae Cornforth 71 Lindi Coetzee 80
629 Gauteng North B 154 Ruzanne Van der Walt 75 Larissa Du Preez 79; 156 Larissa Du Preez 77 Ruzanne Van der Walt 79; 162 Ruzanne Van der Walt 80 Larissa Du Preez 82; 157 Larissa Du Preez 76 Ruzanne Van der Walt 81
633 Southern Cape 161 Desiree Geldenhuys 79 Anzelle Zeelie 82; 158 Anzelle Zeelie 76 Desiree Geldenhuys 82; 159 Desiree Geldenhuys 79 Anzelle Zeelie 80; 155 Desiree Geldenhuys 77 Anzelle Zeelie 78
641 Kwazulu Natal A 162 Brittney-Fay Berger 79 Lizzie Currie 83; 160 Lizzie Currie 80 Pippa Payne 80; 153 Brittney-Fay Berger 70 Lizzie Currie 83; 166 Brittney-Fay Berger 81 Lizzie Currie 85
652 Gauteng North C 163 Marike Reyneke 81 Mercedes Kreissel 82; 158 Mercedes Kreissel 75 Marike Reyneke 83; 164 Karin Watts 82 Marike Reyneke 82; 167 Karin Watts 82 Mercedes Kreissel 85
Challenge Trophy – Final Result
601 Border 160 Zethu Myeki 79 Siviwe Duma 81; 144 Yolanda Duma 72 Siviwe Duma 72; 144 Zethu Myeki 70 Siviwe Duma 74; 153 Zethu Myeki 74 Siviwe Duma 79
621 Ekurhuleni A 160 Sarah Bouch 78 Caitlyn Macnab 82; 156 Caitlyn Macnab 77 Sarah Bouch 79; 155 Caitlyn Macnab 73 Sarah Bouch 82; 150 Casandra Hall 73 Sarah Bouch 77
626 Gauteng C 160 Chiara Contomathios 80 Kajal Mistry 80; 158 Chiara Contomathios 74 Symone Henriques 84; 155 Chiara Contomathios 77 Kajal Mistry 78; 153 Chiara Contomathios 76 Symone Henriques 77
632 Eastern Province 156 Minette Olivier 74 Imkeleen Meyer 82; 160 Imkeleen Meyer 78 Minette Olivier 82; 154 Imkeleen Meyer 75 Minette Olivier 79; 162 Minette Olivier 81 Imkeleen Meyer 81
634 Western Province C 159 Katia Shaff 79 Ashleigh Mills 80; 158 Ashleigh Mills 76 Katia Shaff 82; 157 Katia Shaff 78 Ashleigh Mills 79; 160 Ashleigh Mills 79 Katia Shaff 81
640 Boland B 169 Leanke Vlok 82 Lynne Behagg 87; 166 Olivia Le Roux 80 Lynne Behagg 86; 156 Olivia Le Roux 77 Leanke Vlok 79; 149 Olivia Le Roux 71 Leanke Vlok 78
640 WGSA Invitational Team 165 Caro Els 82 Tara Griebenow 83; 157 Caro Els 74 Tara Griebenow 83; 158 Tara Griebenow 77 Cassidy Williams 81; 160 Tara Griebenow 77 Caro Els 83
654 Limpopo 174 Lenanda Van der Watt 84 Lynn-Mariè Combrink 90; 155 Lynn-Mariè Combrink 77 Lenanda Van der Watt 78; 155 Lenanda Van der Watt 77 Lynn-Mariè Combrink 78; 170 Lynn-Mariè Combrink 81 Lenanda Van der Watt 89
658 Free State & Northern Cape 168 Chante Van Zyl 84 Chante De Lange 84; 166 Chante Van Zyl 81 Chante De Lange 85; 165 Zanele Mazibuko 81 Chante Van Zyl 84; 159 Zanele Mazibuko 76 Chante Van Zyl 83
672 North West B 167 Jhanelle Strydom 83 Frankie Bosman 84; 163 Jhanelle Strydom 80 Desire Green 83; 173 Frankie Bosman 86 Jhanelle Strydom 87; 169 Frankie Bosman 82 Desire Green 87
Individual Leaderboard Result (top 10)
287 Eleonora Galletti 70 74 73 70; Ivanna Samu 72 72 71 72
290 Carrie Park 74 72 73 71
295 Natasha Carlsson 75 73 76 71; Cara Gorlei 75 76 71 73
296 Woo-Ju Son 77 78 70 71
297 Danielle Du Toit 77 74 77 69; Ji Sun Kang 75 75 73 74
298 Kaleigh Telfer 74 71 78 75
299 Zethu Myeki 79 76 70 74
Border lifted the Challenge Trophy title in the 72-Hole Teams Championship at East London Golf Club. Photo: Millie Zim-Dondashe.
Article by Lali Stander on behalf of Womens Golf South Africa.
