Central Gauteng, North West and Boland in command

Defending champions Central Gauteng hit the front in Thursday’s fourth round at the SA Challenge Inter-Provincial in Vereeniging, while the North West strengthened their hold on the A-Section and Boland remained on track for promotion after their fourth successive win in this year’s SA Country Districts Tournament in Upington.

The Western Province put up a gutsy fight at Maccauvlei Golf Club, but victories from Calvin Caldeira, David Meyer, Andy Dill and Darin de Smidt ensured a 6.5 – 5.5 win for Central Gauteng.

The two crucial points for the victory gave their title defense renewed momentum, especially after the SA University side thumped their main rivals, the SAGA Juniors, 7-5.

Central tops the log with seven points, but although the Juniors trail by two points, the side lag only 1.5 game points behind the log leaders. Another good performance in Friday’s final round could still see them cause an upset with a come-from-behind victory.

In the final match, Gauteng North defeated the Presidents Team 7.5 – 4.5 and overtook the Western Province for the third spot on the log. However, both teams are on four points, with the Western Province only 4.5 game points adrift.

At Upington Golf Club, North West scored another decisive victory in this year’s SA Country Districts Tournament and leapfrogged Mpumalanga for the top spot in the A-Section log after beating KwaZulu-Natal 8.5 – 3.5.

The North West side will go into the final round with a two point lead over Mpumalanga, who enjoyed a fourth round bye.

Meanwhile Ekurhuleni edged out Free State & Northern Cape 6.5 – 5.5. However, the one point victory gave the Gauteng East side two crucial points that lifted the team to third on the log and only half a game point behind Mpumalanga.

Boland defeated Limpopo 8.5 – 3.5 for their fourth successive victory in this year’s event and, 12 months after demotion, the Winelands side look set to return to the A-Section.

Boland leads the log by two points from Karoo, who took their tally to six points after thrashing Border 10.5 – 1.5.

Southern Cape moved into third spot in the B-Section log after beating Eastern Province 6.5 – 5.5. The Garden Route side are tide with Karoo on six points, but trail by six in games points.

Click HERE for SA Challenge Inter-Provincial scoring and logs.

Click HERE for SA Country Disctricts Scoring and Logs.