Kim Williams leads the field at the Sanlam SA Amateur
Kim Williams confirmed her ranking as top woman amateur in the country when she carded a three- under 69 on a lengthened Port Elizabeth golf course today to head the leader board after the first round of the Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur Championship.
In this prestigious national championship being played on a windless autumn day, Tiffany Avern-Taplin was the leader coming up the 15th where she was four under par. However, Kim birdied 16 and 18 for her 69 while Tiffany double-dropped at 15 and dropped again on the 18th to eventually sign for a 70, one back from the leader.
Young Lara Weinstein and Henriëtte Frylinck finished a further stroke back on one-under par 71.
In the 10 – 18 division, Namibian Letitia Brink carded an 82, one ahead of veteran Hentie Clack, competing against two of her daughters in the field. Local girls Mieke de Ridder and Imkeleen Meyer were third on 84 and 12-year-old future star Eleonora Galletti scored a great 85 to finish in fifth position.
The top players tee off at 7am tomorrow in a seeded reverse draw with the final round being played on Tuesday.
Women’s Golf South Africa introduced official branded starters boxes at the championship, with clocks on every tee for players to monitor their own pace of play. In the photo above, WGSA President Erica Lefson hands out cards to Henriëtte Frylinck, Bertine Strauss and Pam Hayward at the start of their first round.
The AGM of WGSA was held this evening and Erica Lefson and vice-Prersident Cynthia Rayner were elected for a third year term of office. Protea colours were awarded to Kim Williams and Yvette du Plessis for their participation in The Spirit in November and to Iliska Verwey and Kim Williams for the Mexican Pairs Championship held earlier this year. Erica also announced WGSA’s sanction of a Women’s Senior Amateur championship to be played at Kingswood in November this year. The event will be open to players of 35 year and older and details and entry forms will be available on this web site in due course.