Garcia through to English Womens Amateur weekend

It was touch and go for a while, but South Africa’s Nicole Garcia survived the cut at the English Womens Amateur Stroke Play in England and now the Ekurhuleni golfer will use the reprieve to soak up as much experience as possible over the next two days of play at Mannings Heath Golf Club in Sussex.

The 22-year-old from Ekurhuleni said her patience was tested as she waited to hear where the cut to 36 and ties would fall.

“I carded rounds of 81 and 75, so I was sitting on the bubble at 12-over-par 156,” Garcia said. To her delight, she made the cut-off point on the number.

“The first round didn’t go well at all, because the course is long and tight and without local knowledge, I hit a lot of good shots but walked away with a high score,” she explained.

“I was really disappointed, because it is a long way to travel for two rounds of golf. The second round went better, although I still messed up some good tee shots with hitting my approaches to the wrong side of the greens.”

Garcia had two bogeys on the front and a run of three bogeys after the turn, but managed to get two shots back with birdies at the 13th and 15th.

“Those two birdies really saved me, but it also showed that when you plan your shot from the tee, you can score. I’m absolutely delighted that I will have two more rounds to improve around this course.”

South Africa’s number six ranked player has enjoyed a solid season in South Africa, highlighted by back-to-back victories in the Gauteng 54-Hole Championship and the Free State & Northern Cape Championship in May and the Gauteng North Womens Open Championship Stroke Play Qualifier at Centurion Country Club. She also made the semi-finals of the Sanlam SA Womens Amateur Match Play at Milnerton Golf Club in July.

The Ebotse golfer said she won’t try to make up ground on the two leaders, England’s Charlotte Thomas and Welsh Curtis Cup player Amy Boulden, who set the target at three-under-par 141.

“I don’t want to focus on catching up to the leaders,” she explained “It can all go pear-shaped in a second on this golf course and that is not my priority right now.

“I came to the UK with the assistance of Womens Golf South Africa to tee it up in this event and the Ladies British Open Amateur Stroke Play at Prestwick later this month so I could gain experience in a foreign environment in preparation for the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School later this year.

“I have learned so much in two rounds and I would rather focus on the learning curve and improving my experience in these conditions, than going on a fool’s errand, trying to catch the leaders.”

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