Gauteng North edges ahead at SA U23 IPT

A second successive victory on day two of the South African U23 Inter-Provincial put Gauteng North in pole position and a one point clear over their nearest challengers, Ekurhuleni, at Nelspruit Golf Club.

The Gauteng North side defeated the Western Province 8.5 – 3.5 in round one and followed their success with a 6.5 – 5.5 victory over Southern Cape on Tuesday.

After victories from Werner van Niekerk and Keegan de Lange, and partners Jason Smith and Tristen Strydom in the foursomes, Teaghan Gauche and Matthew Bright halved their match with Matthew Sutherland and Breyten Meyer to give the Gauteng North team a 2.5 – 1.5 lead ahead before the singles.

The side moved three points clear of Southern Cape when Adriel Poonan beat Rian Grootboom 1-up, De Lange defeated Jason Koeries 4/2 and Smith downed Xilian Nel 6/5.

Jack Duthie stopped the bleeding when he knocked out Warrick Moonieyan 4/3 and Cameron Moralee reduced the gap to just 2.5 points after he thumped Bright 5/4.

The Garden Routes’ number two, Jovan Rebula, claimed another crucial point with a 3/2 result against Van Niekerk, but Strydom spoiled Southern Cape’s come back drive when he trounced Sutherland 2/1 and Gauche ensured the slender one point victory for Gauteng North when he beat Meyer 1.

Gauteng North tops the log on four points, one point clear of Ekurhuleni and hosts Limpopo, who are lying third since the Gauteng East side holds a half point lead in games count.

After a superb start to their A-Section campaign with a 7-5 victory against Central Gauteng on Monday, Ekurhuleni had to hold off a spirited attack from the Western Province and the two teams finished all square on 6-all.

In the meantime, Central Gauteng could fare no better against Limpopo, who claimed a one point victory over the defending champions with a 6.5 – 5.5 result.

In the B-Section, Mpumalanga continued their promotion march by defeating Free State & Northern Cape 9-3. Having beaten Boland 8-4 on Monday, Mpumalanga top the log with four points and finished one point clear of North West, who draw 6-all with the Eastern Province.

The match between Boland and KwaZulu-Natal also ended in a 6-all draw.

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