SA pair take top 3s at Albatross International

Western Province’s Altin van der Merwe and Cara Gorlei both claimed top three finishes for South Africa at the 5thAlbatross International Junior Golf Championship in India on Friday.

Van der Merwe from Bellville surged to second place with a 73 at the Jaypee Greens Golf Club and the 17-year-old sealed a runner-up finish in the Boys U-18 Division with successive 73.

Van der Merwe turned in 37 after birdies at the fourth and sixth holes. He birdied the first two holes on the back nine and the par-five 13th, but dropped shots at the 14th, 16th and 17th holes to complete the inward nine in 36 strokes.

The recent Durbanville Open champions finished on four-over-par 220, seven shots behind Indian pacesetter, Natchapol Srinoon, who completed a wire-to-wire victory with rounds of 73-72-68.

Meanwhile Gorlei from Milnerton began the final round in fifth place after earlier rounds of 79 and 77 and closed with a 78 to take third on 234.

The 17-year-old Province golfer finished 14 strokes behind Girls U-18 Division champion, Kanyalak Preedasutthijjt from India, who claimed a stroke victory on 220 with rounds of 75-72-73.

Gorlei’s compatriot Bianca Theron finished in a tie for eighth on 247.

The final South African junior in the group, Tristin Galant, faired equally well in his international debut.

The reigning Nomads SA Boys U-13 champion was five shots off the pace in the Boys U-13 Division from joint leaders Aadil Bedi and Harshjeet Singh Sethi at the 36-hole mark.

The 11-year-old from Belhar closed with an 83 to take eighth spot on 239 in the 27-man field, with Bedi defeating Phasin Vichttchareonpaisarn by two shots for the title.

Posted in