Nobuhle Dlamini wins on -9 and a new course record
Swaziland’s Nobuhle Dlamini equalled and then bettered the 73 par Bryanston Country Club course record this week when she won the Nomads Gauteng 36-hole stroke play championship with a brilliant nine-under-par 137 (69, 68).
Ladies Golf Gauteng had lengthened a couple of holes for the tournament, but the course is very tough on a normal ladies setup and the greens are extremely challenging. This was reflected in the scores, with only the top three players under par for the tournament.
Nobuhle equalled Bertine Strauss’ 2009 course record of 69 in round one and then proceeded to break it in the final round with a brilliant 68.
Kim Williams was runner up on 143(-3) and Izel Pieters third on 145(-1).
The B Division was won by Paula Brisley of Emfuleni Golf Club and the C Division was won by Anne Bergh of Wanderers Golf Club.
Gauteng President Les Rule reports. “Mercia Pretorius won the Champion of Champions on 151, this was played in conjunction with the Nomads Strokeplay. It was great to see her back on the golf course. Nicole Garcia(156) was runner up and Nicole Becker (157), defending Champion, was third.
“The weather was perfect despite the very cold morning starts with some light frost on the greens but fortunately no ice.”
Gauteng Nomads Mike Gahagan writes “Well done to you and all your team for an absolutely wonderful 36 hole tournament!
“It really was an eye opener to walk with the final flight over their last nine holes and see such high quality golf – which included a new ladies course record at Bryanston, at five under par.
“South Africa is really rich with so much talent in the world amateur lady rankings, and that is in no small way due to the time and effort that the Ladies Golf Unions throughout the country spend on organizing quality tournaments for our young ladies to hone their skills.
“I am sure that we will all miss Bertine Strauss (the world number five) as she moves on to college in Texas. However, it is high praise for LGG and Nomads, when her father stated she wants to continue to compete every year in our tournament when she is home during her summer break.
“Finally, it is absolutely incredible to see the ability of Nobhule Dlamini and her progress from world number 260 to 51 in such a short space of time. I am sure that her win today and potentially many more will see Southern Africa add to its dominating position in already holding three of the top 10 world amateur lady rankings. “