Central gets defence underway at SA Under-19 IPT
Defending champions Central Gauteng managed to eke out a first round victory, while Western Province and Ekurhuleni got off to a flying start in the A-Division at the 2014 South African U-19 Inter-Provincial at Krugersdorp Golf Club on Monday.
“We tied Southern Cape 2-all in the Foursomes, but it took a real team effort come out with a 6.5 – 5.5 victory against the Garden Route boys,” said Central Gauteng manager, Andy Truluck.
“The Southern Cape team played outstanding golf and they really kept us on our toes; neither side ever gave up and it was impressive to watch the determination from both teams.”
Dean Martin and Karabo Mokoena put the defending champions in the early lead in the Singles when Martin defeated Hans-Jurie Human 6 & 5 and Mokoena beat Jabulane Mabilane 5 & 4.
However, Aiden Boon knocked out Fritz Orren to narrow the gap and Jovan Rebula downed number one Marco Steyn 2 & 1 to level the score.
Rupert Kaminski put Central ahead once again with a 3 & 2 victory against Caylum Boon.
Central’s Keelan van Wyk halved his game against Alex van Wyk, while David Meyers battled bravely to halve his game against Franklin Manchest.
“It came down to the game between Dylan Naidoo and Cameron Moralee.
“We knew it would be a really tight finish after Cameron holed out at the 16th to square the game,” Truluck said. “Cameron knocked it stiff at the 17th and Dylan conceded the putt.”
However, the reigning Nomads SA Boys U-17 Stroke Play champion Naidoo responded with a superb putt from the edge of the green to halve the hole and both players made par at the last to halve the game.
“Dylan played some great golf at the end there to get that crucial half point for us,” said Truluck.
“It’s always great to start the week with a win, no matter how small the margin, because it does feed the confidence.
“It was an incredibly tight match throughout, but the standard on the junior circuit is really high and there are just no easy victories out there. Our guys know they need to bring it on Tuesday.”
Meanwhile Western Province claimed every game in the Singles but one to stretch a three point lead after the Foursomes to a convincing victory 10.5 – 1.5 against Limpopo.
Hayden Garcia beat Robert Fatana 7 & 6, Cole Cruickshank defeated James Vorster Jnr 5 & 4 and Noel Anderson downed Franco Putter 3 & 2.
Alistair Snowdon raised their tally to seven when he knocked out Gerhard Pepler at the last hole and Michael Sherriff made it eight when he won 5 & 4 against AJ Smit.
Luke Trocado took out Cameron Nesmith 4 & 3 and Altin van der Merwe beat Jaco Linde by the same margin to take their total to 10.
However, Limpopo’s Franco van Zyl spoiled their run when he halved against Luca Filippi.
Ekurhuleni also won three of their Foursomes games and rode their fast start to a 9.5 – 2.5 victory in their opening gambit against Gauteng North.
Ruhan van Dijk, Sentanio Minnie, Jason Froneman, Kyle McClatchie, Paul Boshoff and Tristen Strydom piled on the points for Ekurhuleni, while Dylan Mostert squared his game against Stefan Wears-Taylor for the half point.
Estiaan Conradie added to Gauteng North’s tally with a 2 & 1 result against Chris van Tonder.
A-DIVISION FIRST ROUND SCORES
Central Gauteng 6.5 vs Southern Cape 5.5
Western Province 10.5 vs Limpopo 1.5
Ekurhuleni 9.5 vs Gauteng North 2.5
A-DIVISION FIRST ROUND LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Western Province (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 10.5)
2 Ekurhuleni (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 9.5)
3 Central Gauteng (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 6.5)
4 Southern Cape (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 5.5)
5 Gauteng North (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 2.5)
6 Limpopo (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1.5)
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.