Gauteng guns to SA Women’s IPT glory

Gauteng captured the 55th South African Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship in formidable style to end a nine-year winning drought at Centurion Country Club on Friday.

“We are absolutely thrilled with this result,” said manager Gill van der Meulen. “Not only did our A-team march to victory in this prestigious championship, but our B-team was equally impressive to seal a one-two finish for Gauteng.”

The 2006 champions obliterated Gauteng North B 8.5 – 0.5 in the first round and handed Gauteng North A an 8 – 1 hiding to remain in ascendancy in round two.

“The first two rounds were clinical, but their biggest test was playing their friends in the final round,” Van der Meulen said.

“Gauteng A team won 6.5 – 2.5 against Gauteng B to remain unbeaten, but these girls are all such good friends. It was a challenge for all of them to switch from friends to rivals for the final match.

“The B-team was also the A-team’s strongest opposition all week. Most of the singles matches were very, very tight and the B-team put up a huge fight.”

Gauteng A got off to a solid start in the foursomes to win two games, but Gauteng B scored a huge scalp when Chiara Contomathios and Symone Henriques downed Ivanna Samu and Kaleigh Telfer 3 & 2.

Samu rallied after the foursomes loss and railroaded Symone Henriques 8 & 6 to extend Gauteng A’s lead.

Woo-Ju Son beat Chiara Contomathios 3 & 2, and Eleonora Galletti and Tash Carlsson both won 2-up to put Gauteng A firmly in the driver’s seat.

Kaiyuree Moodley claimed a lone point for Gauteng B when she downed Kajal Mistry 1-up, but Kaleigh Telfer denied the rivals another point when she halved the final game against Shawnelle De Lange.

“It was quite a marvellous experience to watch the tussle between our A- and B-teams and to see all that talent on display,” Van der Meulen said.

“We have a great depth of talent at Gauteng and this victory and our first and second finishes will go a long way in motivation and inspiring our juniors waiting in the wings.

“Our A-team captain Tash Carlsson deserves a special mention. Tash is leaving TuksSport Golf Academy at the end of the year and going to compete in the United States. She showed maturity beyond her years to lead with grace and she will be dearly missed.

“The B-Team and I would also like to salute Sheryl Matthews for her management and support this week. We will look forward to defending our 72-Hole Teams Championship and South African Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship titles next season.”

In the other Division 1 match, Gauteng North A defeated Gauteng North B 6 – 3.

Meanwhile Boland pulled out all the stops to edge out Ekurhuleni 5 – 4 to win Division 2.

Ekurhuleni led the foursomes 2 – 1 but Maggie Minnie, Leanka Vlok, Cassidy Williams and Lynne Behagg reeled in the points to push Boland into pole position on six points.

Western Province A defeated KwaZulu-Natal 5 – 4 to finish in second on four points.

A-SECTION DIVISION 1 FINAL LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Gauteng A (3, 3, 0, 0, 6, 23.0)
2 Gauteng B (3, 2, 0, 1, 4, 14.5)
3 Gauteng North A (3, 1, 0, 2, 2, 11.0)
4 Gauteng North B (3, 0, 0, 3, 0, 5.5)

A-SECTION DIVISION 2 FINAL LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Boland (3, 3, 0, 0, 6, 17.5)
2 Western Province A (3, 2, 0, 1, 4, 14.0)
3 Ekurhuleni (3, 0, 1, 2, 1, 11.5)
4 KwaZulu-Natal (3, 0, 1, 2, 1, 11.0)

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of Womens Golf South Africa.

Posted in