France edge ahead on day one
The young French team edged one point ahead of South Africa after the end of day one of their amateur golf test match today, finishing the day on 6½ points.
Enjoying the cool cloudy weather that prevailed in the morning, at Euphoria Golf Estate in the Waterberg, the South African team started well in the Betterball. They turned up in all four matches.
Nicol van Wyk and Adrian Ford, who turned 4 up in their match, watched their French opponents, Mayel Cheiku and Frederic Abadie, blitz the back nine by recording six birdies in seven holes to turn things around completely, securing a surprise win for the visitors, 2 and 1.
South African team captain Steve Williams and his playing partner Jake Redman will be disappointed with their half, in the morning. They were dormie two up only to lose the last two holes to halve their match against Kevin Turlan and Stanislas Gautier.
After lunch it was the French team’s turn to dominate proceedings.
They won 5 of the eight singles matches.
Amongst the South Africans, Stevie Ferreira won handsomely, 4 and 3, against Stanislas Gautier. In form Dean O’Riley won his game as did Coenie Bester. However the rest did not fair well. Jake Redman took Jerome Lando Casanova to 18, but will be disappointed with his last putt. He missed a short putt for a half, to go 1 down.
Adrian Ford lost two holes to eagles, in his match against Johann Lopez-Lazaro, combined with the fact that his putter went cold on him during his afternoon round.
Tomorrow is the final day of the annual test match between these two countries. They play foursomes in the morning and singles in the afternoon.
First Day’s Results:
Morning Betterball
Dean Bester & Derik Ferreira (RSA) beat Eduard Espana & Julien Brun (FRA) 1 up;
Steve Williams & Jake Redman (RSA) halved with Kevin Turlan and Stanislas Gautier (FRA);
Nicol van Wyk & Adrian Ford (RSA) lost to Mayel Cheiku and Frederic Abadie (FRA) 2 and 1;
Stevie Ferreira & Dean O’Riley beat Johann Lopez-Lazaro & Jerome Lando Casanova (FRA) 2 and 1
South Africa: 2½; France 1½
Afternoon Singles
Steve Williams (RSA) lost to Julien Brun (FRA) 5 and 4;
Coenie Bester (RSA) beat Edouard Espana (FRA) 2 and 1;
Nicol van Wyk (RSA) lost to Frederic Abadie (FRA) 3 and 2;
Derik Ferreira (RSA) lost to Mayel Chieku (FRA) 4 and 3;
Jake Redman (RSA) lost to Jerome Lando Casanova 1 down;
Stevie Ferreira (RSA) beat Stanislas Gautier (FRA) 4 and 3;
Dean O’Riley (RSA) beat Kevin Turlan (FRA) 1 up;
Adrian Ford (RSA) lost to Johann Lopez-Lazaro (FRA) 2 and 1.
South Africa: 3; France: 5
Cumulative Score:
South Africa: 5½; France 6½.