SA Quartet keeps control at RAACT
Reigning Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur champion Lumien Orton and GolfRSA Elite Squad member Zethu Myeki kept South Africa’s title defence on track at the Regional All-Africa Challenge Trophy (RAACT) in Lesotho on Thursday.
Orton and number two ranked Myeki warded off a strong challenge from Zimbabwe on a wet and windy day at the Maseru Golf Club with a one over 145 in the second round. The team will start today’s final round with a three shot lead.
Myeki posted an even-par 71.
“Unfortunately I dropped at the ninth and I three putted the 14th and had a double at 18, but I struck the ball well and the putting was a lot better,” said the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation member after racking up birdies at one, five, 10 and 15. “I definitely feel that I can improve on Thursday’s round and I hope to break par on the last day.”
Orton carded a second successive one-over-par 73 and was happy with the consistency of her game over the last two day.
“Except for a double on the par three fifth, I scored well,” Orton said. “I was three over going into 15 and I birdied 15 and 16 to get two shots back before I finished par-par. Putting was difficult under trying conditions, but I holed a couple crucial putts at the end. We don’t have a very large lead, so we will be attacking the course today.”
GolfRSA Elite Squad player Sarah Bouch carded 74.
“I played really well, but I had a mid-round stumble on the front nine that cost me some shots,” said Bouch from the HPC Tuks Golf Academy. “I’m pleased that I was able to regroup and gain some ground back after I dropped a couple of shots mid-round.
“I was one under through four but I didn’t hit a good drive at seven and finished in the trees and the only option was to punch out, but I managed a good five. At the eighth, I snap-hooked my tee shot and paid the price after ending up in the trees again. I hit it to seven-foot but missed the par putt.
“At the ninth I pulled my tee shot slightly and I made a double. I started the back nine with a drop again but I hit a really good drive at 12 just short of the green, chipped up and two-putted for birdie.
“The 15th has a huge bunker guarding the green and I usually take four-iron. The grass was still wet from the rain so I went with a hybrid and I cleared the bunker to set up another birdie. That got me back to two over. I only had 29 putts, which was a big improvement.”
Team captain Vicki Traut, who led the team with a 70 in the opening round, fought valiantly on the back nine to sign for an 81.
“I had trouble to stay focused in the pouring rain over the first nine holes and it was a tale of missed fairways and crucial putts to save par, but I regained my rhythm over the back nine and dropped just one shot, so I have the momentum back for a last push in the final round,” said the Western Province golfer.
Meanwhile Batsirai Tilowaluti from Zimbabwe fired the low round of the day – a three-under-par 69 – and team mate Emily Jones returned a 75 to keep the side in second place with a second round 144.
Round Two Team Scores
286 South Africa 141 145
289 Zimbabwe 145 144
341 Swaziland 176 165
344 Lesotho 166 178
347 Namibia 172 175
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA, a SAGA and WGSA Not-For-Profit company.