KZN in charge at 72-Hole Team Champs
The scoreboard changed significantly on day two of the 72-Hole Teams Championship as KwaZulu-Natal’s Michaela Fletcher and Tiffany Avern-Taplin successfully combined to topple first round leaders Gauteng North from their perch at Mossel Bay Golf Club.
SWISS TROPHY
Gauteng North A took a two shot lead over KZN A and Western Province A into the second round on Tuesday, but KZN A and WP A quickly turned the tables on the defending champions.
Former Sanlam Cancer Challenge champion Fletcher laid down a marker with a two-over-par 74 and Avern-Taplin added a 75 for a 149 and a two shot lead going into round three.
Meanwhile Ji Sun Kang and Kelly Erasmus shot respective rounds of 74 and 77 for WPA to leapfrog Gauteng North A for second, while Carrie Park and Magda Kruger combined for 154 to keep the defending champions six shots clear of Gauteng A.
Avern-Taplin laid the foundation for KZN A with a third round even-par 72, while Fletcher added a 77 for another 149 and the 54-hole lead at 446.
While KZN A will take a five shot lead over WP A into the final round, Gauteng North A will have their hands full to keep Gauteng A at bay while chasing down their fifth consecutive title in the prestigious team championship.
Erasmus carded a 75 and Cara Gorlei added a 77 for a score of 152 that lifted WP A into second on 451.
Park and Kruger carded respective rounds of 74 and 79. Their combined 152 left Gauteng North A lagging seven shots off the pace in third on 453.
Lara Weinstein, doing duty for Gauteng A during her summer break from the University of Texas, carded rounds of 77 and 74.
Kaleigh Telfer added a second round 79 and Ivanna Samu produced a 74 in the third round to lift Gauteng A to 454 and within striking distance of the leaders.
CHALLENGE TROPHY
Southern Cape A put themselves in line for promotion after taking a handy four shot lead on day two. Maggi du Toit and Anzelle Zeelie combined for rounds of 168, 155 and 158 to put Southern Cape A in charge at 481.
Meanwhile Zethu Myeki and Siviwe Duma carded rounds of 160, 157 and 168 to give Border a fighting chance alongside KwaZulu-Natal.
Brittney-Fay Berger, Courtenay James and Jessica Shurety put together rounds of 158, 160 and 167 to tie Border for second on 485.
SWISS TROPHY LEADERBOARD
446 – KwaZulu-Natal A 148 149 149
451 – Western Province A 148 151 152
453 – Gauteng North A 146 154 153
454 – Gauteng A 150 156 148
458 – Boland A 153 156 149
467 – Gauteng North C 158 157 152
469 – Mpumalanga 161 153 155
479 – North West A 163 156 160
481 – Western Province B 163 159 159
483 – Gauteng North B 153 166 164
490 – Gauteng B 159 165 166
491 – Ekurhuleni A 168 168 155
CHALLENGE TROPHY LEADERBOARD
481 – Southern Cape A 168 155 158
485 – Border 160 157 168
485 – KwaZulu-Natal B 158 160 167
493 – Eastern Province 158 171 164
496 – Gauteng C 162 171 163
509 – Southern Cape B 171 166 172
511 – Limpopo 165 168 178
512 – North West B 167 171 174
516 – Free State & Northern Cape 172 175 169
527 – Western Province C 177 180 170
528 – Ekurhuleni B 178 175 175
531 – Boland B 184 174 173
THIRD ROUND INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD – TOP 10
71 – Olivia le Roux
72 – Tiffany Avern-Taplin
74 – Ivanna Samu, Lara Weinstein, Carrie Park, Catherine Lau
75 – Kelly Erasmus, Casandra Hall
76 – Monja Richards
77 – Cara Gorlei, Michaela Fletcher
PHOTO – Front ltr front: KZN B – Courtenay James, Britney-Fay Berger, Jessica Shurety
Back ltr back: KZN A – Michaela Fletcher, Tiffany Averb-Taplin, Lizzie Currie
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of Womens Golf South Africa.