Lau steps into title defence at Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl
Gauteng North’s Catherine Lau will launch her Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl Championship title defence at Rondebosch Golf Club on Monday.
Twelve months ago, the 12-year-old Woodhill golfer upstaged some of the biggest names in junior golf to win the prestigious annual stroke play championship on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
Ironically, the young golfer was unaware that she was in contention until she finished the final round two strokes ahead of her nearest challengers.
After earlier rounds of 69 and 76 at Selborne Country Club, the petite Lau battled the wet and windy conditions on the final day to close with a 76, beating Magda Kruger, Ji Sun Kang and Bianca Lohbauer on a winning score of five-over-par 221.
Although Kruger has joined the senior ranks, Kang and Lohbauer will be back to give the title run another shot.
Other juniors who make a strong case for success include 2014 champions Kaleigh Telfer, Carrie Park, Ivanna Samu and Bianca Theron, as well as local favourite Cara Gorlei, Shawnelle de Lange and Eleanora Galletti.
Telfer, who replaced Theron at the top of the junior rankings, won the Curro SA Junior International this March, while Park and Theron has enjoyed two trips to the winner’s circle.
Theron from the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation won the Nomads WGWP Junior and Gauteng North Junior Girls Championships, while GFG Academy’s Park claimed victories at the Border and KwaZulu-Natal Championships.
Samu from Gauteng also makes a strong case for victory, having recently lifted the WGWP Pam Golding Properties Stroke Play Championship at Somerset West Golf Club.
The 54-hole championship tees off on Monday, 31 March.