SA duo in control at Albatross
South Africa’s Shawnelle de Lange and Danielle du Toit took first and second respectively in the 15-17 Age Division at the 6th Albatross International Junior Golf Championship in India on Thursday.
De Lange from Gauteng birdied three par fives at the ITC Classic Golf Resort on her way to a one-over-par 73 to take the 36-hole lead at 153.
Gauteng North’s Du Toit was disappointed with a first round 82, but rallied to shave an impressive nine shots off her opening score to match her compatriot and finish just one stroke behind De Lange.
The pair also combined for 308 in the team competition to take third place on the leaderboard, 10 shots off the pace from the Thai pairing of Karandeep Singh Kochter and Karan Pratup Singh.
Boland junior Crystal Beukes and Brittney-Fay Berger from KwaZulu-Natal have been equally impressive in the 13-14 Age Division and both players are within striking distance after the second round.
Beukes opened with a 71 and the 13-year-old carded an 81 in round two to finish in second on 159, eight shots behind pacesetter Onkanok Soisuwan from Thailand, while Berger posted rounds of 78 and 84 and is lying in third on 162.
Beukes and Berger also moved to sixth in the team competition on 321.
“Danielle and Shawnelle were two happy campers, having shot one over par,” reported Womens Golf South Africa president, Karen Olivant.
“Danielle’s drive at the first hole went well into the bush on the left, but she was able to just chip out. Her third shot pitched right next to the pin and she made par. We almost thought she would ace the par-three 11th, but the ball stopped just short of the pin and she tapped in for birdie.
“Unfortunately Crystal and Brittney didn’t fare as well, but still gave a credible account of themselves.
Brittney got a little unlucky at her first hole (the 10th), when she hit her drive right into the trees and proceeded to hit the same tree twice with her second and third shots, resulting in a triple bogey.
Crystal’s putter let her down and she missed a great birdie opportunity after superb shot into the 11th. She is a wonderfully aggressive player and it’s a pity the putter wouldn’t cooperate.”
Official website: http://www.albatross.co.in/