SA pair make solid start in Scotland

Kaleigh Telfer putted her way to an even-par 73 in the first round of the Girl’s British Amateur Open Championship Qualifier in Scotland, using a driver over the last six holes at West Kilbride Golf Club on Sunday.

Telfer’s putter was lost around the 12th hole, but the Bryanston junior used her driver to great effect to finish a stroke behind fellow Gauteng golfer Ivanna Samu, whose one under 71 lifted her to joint 22nd.

“Both players had to start their rounds in a very cold weather, strong winds and a heavy downpour that lasted almost half-an-hour,” said Womens Golf South Africa President Karen Olivant.

“They braved the conditions and warmed up as the weather turned sunny.”

Samu, the country’s top ranked junior, birdied the first and negated three bogeys on the front nine with a hat-trick of birdies directly after the turn.

The reigning Sanlam SA Amateur Women’s Stroke Play champion lags eight strokes off the pace from first round leader Hazel MacGarvie from Troon Ladies Golf Club and finished six shots behind second-placed Sweden’s Frida Kinhult.

MacGarvie had only 27 putts as she reeled in eight birdies and an eagle to offset a lone bogey as she cruised to a nine under 64 at the 6,134 yard layout.

Telfer mixed two birdies with a bogey on the front nine and finished the back nine bogey-birdie-bogey.

“Only the top 64 players advance to the match play championship, so we are going in with a positive attitude despite our very early tee-times,” Olivant said.

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Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of Womens Golf South Africa.

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