Course Record wins the KZN Championships

17 year old Connie Chen (Waterkloof) shattered the Umhlali Country Club ladies course record with a sparkling 64 in the second round to win the KZN 2010 Ladies Championship by seven shots on Sunday 28th February.

After the morning round, 18 year old Yushira Budhram (Country Club Johannesburg) was the only player to break par with a two under 69. This put her three clear of defending champion Kim Williams (Centurion), Connie Chen, Nicole Garcia (Ebotse), Kirsten Campbell (Royal Johannesburg & Kensington), and Jena Schonfeld (Glendower), all on 72.

In the afternoon round, with the wind becoming a factor, several of the fancied players fell away, including Budhram. Lumien Orton (Schoeman Park) threatened with a sub par 70 but no one could match the inspired play of Connie Chen, whose round could have been even better had a couple of short putts dropped.

Connie has already represented South Africa on four occasions and only recently returned from playing in the Annika International in Orlando Florida.

The immaculate Umhlali Country Club course stood up well to the test posed by these top players. Only Chen broke par on her way to winning not only the Championship but also the Best Nett and the KZN Junior Championship.

The Silver Division was won by Mieke Walsh (Victoria Country Club) from Courtenay James (Mount Edgecombe CC) while the KZN Closed Championship saw Tiffany Avern-Taplin winning on a count out from fellow provincial player Johmari Logtenberg.

Selected results:

KZN Ladies Championship

C Chen 72 64 136

L Orton 73 70 143

K Willaims 72 73 145

N Garcia 72 73 145

T Avern Taplin 73 73 146

J Logtenberg 73 73 146

K Campbell 72 75 147

H Frylink 75 72 147

Silver Division:

M Walsh 83 84 167

C James 86 83 169

T Holloway 87 83 170

R Gouws 81 90 171

T Kauffman 81 91 172

T Francey 86 87 173