NATIONAL NEWS - It may have taken a lot more effort than they planned for, but defending champions Central Gauteng and host union Ekurhuleni got the job done and joined Southern Cape as the early frontrunners in the first round of the 55th South African Inter-Provincial, sponsored by Tempest, at Glendower Golf Club on Monday.
Southern Cape started the Singles on the back foot, but won five games in the Singles to defeat Boland 7.5 – 4.5, while Central Gauteng beat Eastern Province 7 – 5.
Ekurhuleni extended Western Province’s SA IPT Monday Blues with a 7 – 5 result.
Southern Cape trailed Boland 1.5 – 2.5 after the Foursomes but Ivan Williams turned the tide when he defeated Philip Spies 2 & 1 in the first Singles game.
Herman Spies and Karl Osche pushed Boland’s tally to 4.5, but Andre Nel won 4 & 3 and Nicolas Mitchell 4 & 2 to level the score.
Heinrich Frylinck defeated Armandt Scholtz 3 & 2 and there was no stopping the Garden Route team.
Jade Buitendag prevailed 2-up against Johan Germishuys and Jovan Rebula sealed victory with a 1-up result against Pierre de Villiers.
“The opening match is always the toughest one to get through, but we’ve crossed that first big hurdle,” said Southern Cape Golf union president Tannah Harris.
“There was a lot of pressure on the players after the Foursomes, but our manager Billy Valentyn asked the guys to step up and they delivered.
“The games were very tight and, at times, could have gone Boland’s way, but the boys gave 100% to put us in a strong position early in the event.
“Winning the first one always helps the confidence and the players will take a lot away from this first round performance.”
Ekurhuleni forfeited one game in the Foursomes to allow matriculant Kyle McClatchie to write an exam, but despite the walkover, the host union dominated against Western Province to carry a 3 – 1 lead into the Singles.
Recent Africa Junior Open champion Sentanio Minnie claimed Ekurhuleni’s first scalp when he downed Werner Theart 4 & 3.
Skipper Rowan du Preez eliminated Gerlou Roux 2 & 1 to protect their lead and Teagan Moore took the side to six points when he beat Sean Bradley 2-up.
Angus Cole-Ellis secured their victory when he defeated Altin van der Merwe 2 & 1.
Central Gauteng and Eastern Province drew the Foursomes, but skipper Andi Dill got the ball rolling for Central Gauteng when he handed Dylan Germshuys a 7 & 6 drubbing in the first Singles game.
Jason Viljoen and rookie Basil Wright followed suit and strengthened their attack and Central Gauteng moved one point clear when Darin de Smidt defeated Fezekile Kana 3 & 1.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Central Gauteng 7 – Eastern Cape 5
Ekurhuleni 7 – Western Province 5
Southern Cape 7.5 – Boland 4.5
FIRST ROUND LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Southern Cape (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 7.5)
T2 Central Gauteng (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 7.0)
T2 Ekurhuleni (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 7.0)
T4 Western Province (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 5.0)
T4 Eastern Province (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 5.0)
6 Boland (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 4.5)
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.
