SA duo impress in Japan
Juniors Dylan Mostert and Ivanna Samu flew the flag for South Africa with great pride in the curtain-raiser for the 2016 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup, presented by JAL, in Toyota City, Japan on Sunday.
Samu won the Girls Division of the annual Long Drive Contest with a drive of 274 yards to beat Maria Parra from Spain by two yards and the 17-year-old Ruimsig golfer Samu improved the bench mark set by Mexican Maria Fassi in 2015 by eight yards.
Mostert, meanwhile, hit his drive to 319 yards, finishing six yards short of the winner, Johannes Axell from Sweden.
The two South African teams used Monday’s official practice round to put the finishing touches to their preparation for the championship, which tees off at the Ishino Course at Chukyo Golf Club on Tuesday.
Samu, Kaleigh Telfer and Danielle du Toit will start the first round action against Mexico and Australia, while Marco Steyn will lead the SA Boys team alongside Dylan Naidoo, Herman Loubser and Dylan Mostert against Brazil and Norway.
Japan is the defending champions in both the boys and girls divisions.
Other countries contesting the Boys Division include Canada, Chile, Germany, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Thailand and Zimbabwe.
In addition to South Africa, Japan, Mexico and Australia, the Girls Division has also drawn teams from Korea, Italy, the United States, Argentina and Spain, which marks the biggest field since the Girls Competition launched in 2013.
“All seven players are ready to fire,” said Women’s Golf South Africa national coach Val Holland.
“They are all striking the ball great and look well prepared for the 72 holes ahead of them. The course is in immaculate condition. It rained overnight and during the practice round and the softer conditions will make the course slightly more difficult compared to the practice rounds.
“It’s a very tight layout and it requires a big degree of planning as there are a number of holes that doesn’t suit a driver off the tee. The greens are in great condition, running fast and true.”
To view the scores, please go to http://www.wjgtc.org/english/score/index.html
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association and Womens Golf South Africa.