Connie Chen moves to top the SA Women’s Ranking
17-year old Waterkloof’s Connie Chen moved to the top the SA Women’s ranking when she won the 36-hole Southern Cape Championship at Plettenberg Bay on Saturday 28 August.
Connie won the title when she defeated Cradock’s Iliska Verwey on the first of three sudden-death play-off holes after the pair had tied on three over par 147.
Connie has displayed 12 months of impeccable golf to reach the top position and her other victories this year include the SA 72 Hole Stroke Play Championship, 54 hole SA Girls Championship, Gauteng North Junior Championship, North West Championship, KwaZulu Natal Senior and Junior Stroke Play Championship, Gauteng North Stroke Play and Match Play Championships and the Nomads Gauteng Stroke Play Championship.
Reporting on the Southern Cape championship, outgoing President Lesley Carriline said that the event got underway in moderate winds on a course that had been lengthened by 284m to 5365m with the course rating changed to 73.
The number of players in the field this year was down by 20 compared to 2009 but most of the top South African Amateurs made the trip to the Garden Route for the weekend event.
Limpopo champion, Nicole Becker led the field after 18 holes on 73, with Sandra Winter on 74 and Kim Williams on 75. Connie Chen carded a 76 and Iliska Verwey 77.
Iliska Verwey stormed back in the afternoon with a two-under 70 a tie with Connie Chen after her one-under 71 – both finishing on 147. Nicole Becker and Lara Weinstein tied three strokes back on 150.
Lesley said that a large gallery followed the players down the first – a 325 metre par four – in the play-off.
“Both players hit their drives into the right hand rough. Iliska was unlucky not to have a clear shot to the green and was forced to punch her second back onto the fairway. Connie’s second, played over the trees, finished left of the flag about five metres from the green.
“Connie put her third shot inside of Iliska’s third and Iliska missed the par putt to make five while Connie sank her put for the par.”
The B Division was won by Nicole Bader on a score 172 with Chandré Roberts runner up on 176.
Elsabe Gray, playing on her home course, won the C Division on a score190 and Charissa Lamprecht runner up on 197.
Chrismarie Horn was the winner Southern Cape Closed Junior Championship on a score of 162.
The 18 hole Foursomes Championship, was played on Sunday 29th August in similar conditions to Saturday, other than the changed and stronger wind blowing at 29kmh.
Nicole Becker and Henriëtte Frylinck won on a very good score of 71 with Kelly Erasmus and Izel Pieters runners-up on 77.