New Zealand and GB & I win Opening Matches at Fairhaven but Kim aces her tee-shot at 10 and defeats World No. 1
Pre-tournament favorites New Zealand, with the World Nos 1 and 2 in their line-up, started their campaign to win the Astor Trophy for a first time by beating South Africa 4.5 to 2.5 but Great Britain and Ireland, defending a 100 per cent record when hosting the once-every-four years tournament could also feel satisfied with an opening-day 5-2 win over Australia at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lytham St Annes in Lancashire.
The Kiwis took the foursomes 2-0 with Lydia Ko and Cecilia Cho producing a cluster of birdies on the inward half of their 5 and 3 win over Kim Williams and Illiska Verwey of South Africa.
But give the South Africans credit for hitting back to share the singles 2.5 to 2.5.
Kim Williams had a hole in one at the 10th in her match against Lydia Ko, the 14-year-old who tops the Women’s World Amateur Rankings. It was the second ace of her career, with a six-iron at this 177yd hole, and it helped the South African to beat Lydia by one hole.
All square after 17, Williams got a birdie 4 at the long 18th to win by one hole.
It was a quality match as one would expect with a player like Ko who has a handicap of +6. The Kiwi golfing whiz kid was approximately four under par for the round – and lost!
“I’ve no idea of my score,” said Kim Williams, “but it’s been a terrific afternoon for me. Getting a hole in one and beating the World No 1 is something special.”
Other afternoon winner for South Africa were Henriette Frylink who beat Emily Perry by 7 and 6.
For New Zealand, Cecilia Cho, the 16-year-old World No 2 (she was No 1 before Ko took over), won by 2 and 1 against Illiska Verwey. Bertine Strauss (South Africa) and Chantelle Cassidy (NZ) halved their match.
Val Holland reports
“Well we are not called the Silent Assassins for nothing we have full intentions of coming from behind and winning.
“ We started the tournament against New Zealand and little did we know that we would be up against a 14 and 16 year old and they ranked number 1 & 2 in the world. We put our strongest pairing of Kim and Iliska against them and guess what they bring in a cool six under par and beat us. What an amazing game to watch, Kim & Iliska start off with three birdies in a row a near miss of birdie on four and then these two little ones decided enough of that and they turned on birdies like I have never seen.
“Hetta and Bertine also played extremely well but received a mix bag of golf from their opponents, they concede a hole and then birdie the next and then concede and birdie so very difficult to get into the game. Unfortunately we went into the singles two down and had to fight real hard in the singles.
“ Kim was the star of the day playing the number one, winning on the 18th and a fantastic seven under par and a superb hole in one on the 10th with a perfect six iron. Iliska put up a good fight and brought it back from four down and lost on the 17th.
“Hetta had a great win 7/5. Bertine was three down through 12 and managed to fight back for a half. Team SA went 4 ½ -2 ½ down to New Zealand. Spirits are high and we ready to take on Great Britain tomorrow, GB beat Australia today.
“Well I guess that’s all the news from the UK. – Chat again tomorrow.”
Team Silent Assassins
Results
South Africa vs New Zealand |
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Live Scoring South Africa meets GB & I today, foursomes teeing off at 08h00 (09h00 SA time)