KZN set for promotion at SA U-19 IPT

While the battle for supremacy in the A-Division will go down to the wire in Friday’s final round at Krugersdorp Golf Club, KwaZulu-Natal will tee it up against Eastern Province, secure in the knowledge that their final match in the South African Under-19 Inter-Provincial is a mere formality.

While North West, Mpumalanga, Border, Boland and Free State jostled for position during the weather-interrupted fourth round on Thursday, the boys in black enjoyed a leisurely bye.

KwaZulu-Natal, the only unbeaten team in the B-Division in this year’s championship, effectively sealed their promotion as early as the third round with five successive victories.

But pride is on the line, and the remaining teams continue to battle for position.

North West Province took the a commanding lead against Border and Mpumalanga, while Mpumalanga led Border by two points and Boland edged one point clear of Free State in the Foursomes.

A heavy thunderstorm interrupted play and left the course waterlogged, and a second storm further delayed play.

Once the Singles got back underway, Border fought brilliantly from three and a half points down to win five of their eight Singles, but North West pulled through a 6.5 – 5.5 victory.

The side couldn’t hold off Mpumalanga, whom they led 3 – 1.

Mpumalanga also notched five victories in the Singles to force the match into a 6-all draw and stretched their Foursomes lead to celebrate a 7.5 – 4.5 victory against Border.

Jan Hendrik Jacobs halved against Tristan Naude, while Nicklas van Wyk won 2 & 1, Ryan Stenzel triumphed 1-up, Ivan Mare defeated Chuma Adonis 6 & 5 and Andre van Heerden downed Byron Toogood 3 & 1.

Boland was looking to hammer down a victory against Free State to get within two points of KwaZulu-Natal, but the Free State side proved formidable opponents.

Boland led 2.5 – 1.5 after the Foursomes, but Attie van Wyk, Therion Nel, Franco, Steven le Roux and Louis Fourie rallied before play had to be called due to bad light to secure a 6.5 – 5.5 victory for Free State.

B-DIVISION FOURTH ROUND RESULTS
Border 5.5 vs North West Province 6.5
North West Province 6.0 vs Mpumalanga 6.0
Border 4.5 vs Mpumalanga 7.5
Boland 5.5 vs Free State 6.5

B-DIVISION LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 KwaZulu-Natal (5, 5, 0, 0, 10, 44.5)
2 Eastern Province (5, 3, 1, 1, 7, 30.0)
3 Boland (5, 3, 0, 2, 6, 39.5)
4 Free State (5, 2, 2, 1, 6, 29.0)
5 Mpumalanga (6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 29.0)
6 North West Province (5, 1, 1, 3, 3, 25.5)
7 Border (5, 0, 0, 5, 0, 18.5)

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.

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