Bertine is leading amateur going into the final round of the SA Open
Bertine Strauss, on 150 (78, 72) is the leading amateur at the SA Open being played at Selborne Park Golf Club this weekend. A good level par 72 in windy conditions increased her chances of winning the Jackie Mercer Trophy awarded to the leadig amateur in this LET sanctioned event.
Michael Vlismas reports
PENNINGTON, KwaZulu-Natal (14 July 2012) – A windy second round of the SA Women’s Open ended in a four-way tie for the lead and a host of others right in contention at Selborne Park Golf Club on Saturday.
Germany’s Caroline Masson overcame a bogey-bogey start and signed for a 75 to stay in the lead at level par.
But South Africa’s Ashleigh Simon joined her with a 72, and France’s Joanna Klatten and England’s Danielle Montgomery did the same with their respective rounds of 73 and 70.
And the four of them are only one clear of France’s Julie Greciet, while a further nine players are within three shots of the lead.
“When the conditions are this difficult the leaderboard is always tight, so every shot out there counts. But it should be an exciting final round,” said Masson, who fought hard to remain in contention despite the worst of starts.
“I was two over after two and thought it was going to be a really tough day. But I just stayed patient and tried to make my pars. I made a few stupid mistakes, but all in all I think I did okay in these conditions. You just have to keep focusing and that’s tough on your mind.”
While her long irons let her down, Masson’s short game was impressive and she scrambled a number of good pars. “If I can just keep doing that then I’ll be fine. On this course you need to make a few good pars when you hit it into trouble.”
Simon had one of the more solid rounds on the day, making a single birdie and bogey to give the South Africans something to cheer about.
“The conditions were really tricky but I hung in there. At times it was a three-club wind. But I’ve played some of my best golf in the wind before.”
As much as she was fighting the conditions, Simon is also still battling with her health and the stomach bug that has plagued her since the start of this tournament.
“I felt a bit stronger this morning but had to get tablets from the doctor after nine holes. But I’m getting there.”
At two over par, South Africa’s Stacy Bregman and Lee-Anne Pace are also still in the hunt. And with the wind expected to blow even harder on the final day, even Lindsey Wright, Becky Brewerton, Anne-Lise Caudal and Felicity Johnson at three over will feel they still have a chance at victory.
“Look, level par or one over could probably win it on the final day,” said Simon.
And Klatten is setting herself up for another day of patient golf. “You have to be very patient. This is a golf course that will beat you up if you give up. You have to accept bogeys out there and not push anything.”
And yet there will be a number of them pushing very hard for a maiden victory on Sunday.
Herewith the second round scores from the South African Women’s Open played at the par-72 Selborne Park Golf Club on Saturday, 14 July 2012.
All competitors RSA unless otherwise indicated; amateurs indicated as (AMA)
144 – Danielle Montgomery 74 70 ENG, Joanna Klatten 71 73 FRA, Ashleigh Simon 72 72, Caroline Masson GER 69 75
145 – Julie Greciet FRA 71 74
146 – Stacy Lee Bregman 71 75, Lee-Anne Pace 75 71, Bree Arthur AUS 77 69
147 – Morgana Robbertze 73 74, Anais Maggetti SUI 71 76, Becky Brewerton WAL 72 75, Lindsey Wright AUS 74 73, Tandi Cuningham 75 72, Anne-Lise Caudal FRA 74 73
148 – Felicity Johnson ENG 72 76, Rebecca Hudson ENG 74 74
149 – Sophie Sandolo ITA 76 73, Connie Chen 73 76, Marion Ricordeau FRA 77 72, Rebecca Codd IRE 78 71, Florentyna Parker ENG 74 75
150 – Suzette Venter 76 74, Stacey Keating AUS 77 73, Nontaya Srisawang THA 73 77, Sharmila Nicollet IND 75 75, Louise Larsson SWE 75 75, Rebecca Artis AUS 76 74, Bertine Strauss (AMA) 78 72, Amelia Lewis USA 77 73
151 – Stefania Croce ITA 78 73, Alison Whitaker AUS 76 75, Melissa Eaton-Jackson 78 73, Sahra Hassan WAL 79 72, Gwladys Nocera FRA 74 77, Sophie Walker ENG 77 74, Eleanor Givens ENG 76 75
152 – Steffi Kirchmayr GER 77 75, Lucie Andre FRA 77 75, Maria Beautell 7ESP 4 78, Elena Giraud FRA 74 78, Elizabeth Bennett ENG 75 77, Mireia Prat ESP 76 76
153 – Yu Yang Zhang CHN 80 73, Iliska Verwey 75 78
154 – Mary Mattson USA 78 76, Patricia Beliard FRA 82 72, Elin Emanuelsson SWE 76 78, Caroline Rominger SUI 80 74, Nobuhle Dlamini (AMA) 78 76
155 – Henriette Frylinck 83 72, Alana Van Greuning (AMA) 77 78, Laurette Maritz 76 79
156 – Anna Scott ENG 80 76, Kim Williams (AMA) 77 79, Michelle De Vries 80 76, Monique Smit 78 78
157 – Jenni Kuosa FIN 82 75, Bianca Theron (AMA) 77 80, Bonita Bredenhann (AMA) 74 83, Izel Pieters (AMA) 80 77, Caroline Martens SWE 80 77
158 – Titiya Plucksataporn THA 76 82, Kylie Walker SCO 76 82
159 – Smriti Mehra IND 80 79
160 – Erika Holmen SWE 80 80
161 – Piyathida Ployumsri THA 85 76
162 – Lara Weinstein (AMA) 80 82, Nicole Becker 82 80, Michaela Fletcher (AMA) 78 84
Missed the cut:-
163 – Anna Becker-Frankel SWE 83 80, Mandy Adamson 81 82, Kym Larratt ENG 83 80, Magda Kruger (AMA) 81 82, Nicole Garcia (AMA) 78 85, Betty Mokoena 81 82
164 – Caryn Louw 83 81
166 – Kim Brookes 82 84
167 – Monja Richards (AMA) 86 81, Lindsay Brown 84 83
168 – Nicola Eaton 82 86
169 – Lucy Williams ENG 86 83
170 – Nora Angehrn SUI 80 90
173 – Olivia Le Roux (AMA) 84 89
Withdrawn – Ashley Knoll USA 85