SA rally for victory in Australia

South Africa rallied after a first round loss in the Astor Trophy to beat New Zealand in the second round in Adelaide, Australia.

The national team took the cold and windy conditions at The Grange Golf Club in their stride and bounced back from a 6-1 loss against defending champions Great Britain & Ireland with a hard-earned 4 & 3 victory against New Zealand.

Bertine Strauss and Ivanna Samu combined to beat New Zealand’s Munchin Keh and Julianne Alvarez 1-up in the Foursomes, but Chantelle Cassidy and Alanna Campbell squared the match for the Kiwis when they downed Michaela Fletcher and Eleonora Galletti 2-up.

“New Zealand beat Great Britain & Ireland in the first round, so we knew they would be tough to beat,” said national coach, Val Holland.

“However, with a half in the bag, we only needed to win three of the five Singles and the team were determined to bring the victory home.”

University of Texas player Strauss from North West Province beat Kew 4 & 3 to bag the first point.

Reigning Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur champion Samu from Gauteng kept the pressure up against Wenyung Keh to triumph 1-up, but Fletcher from KwaZulu-Natal, who won South Africa’s only point against Great Britain & Ireland, was trumped 5 & 3 by Alvarez.

Lora Assad, who plays her golf at Texas University, went down 6 & 4 to Cassidy and it was up to Gauteng junior Eleonora Galletti to deliver the winning blow.

The Africa Youth Games bronze medallist was 3-up through 11 holes, but lost four holes on the trot’

“We needed Ellie to fight back and she really stood up to be counted,” Holland said.

“She played a brilliant second shot from the bunker at the 16th to win the hole and hit another superb shot into the green at the par-three 17th to halve the hole with Alana.

“At the 18th, Ellie drove the waste bunker, but hit the shot of her career when she flew her second shot to two meters from the pin. Alana missed the green and couldn’t up-and-down, handing Ellie a fantastic 1-up victory that clinched the match for us.”

The team will face Canada in round four. The Canadians lost 4.5 & 2.5 to Australia in the first round and were beaten 5 & 2 by the defending champions in the third round.

“As expected, the team was very excited after turning things around and we will bring the same resolve and fighting spirit to our match against Canada on Thursday,” Holland said.

THIRD ROUND RESULT

FOURSOMES
Bertine Strauss & Ivanna Samu beat Munchin Keh & Julianne Alvarez 1-up
Michaela Fletcher & Eleonora Galletti lost Chantelle Cassidy & Alanna Campbell 2-up

SINGLES
Bertine Strauss beat Munchin Keh 4 & 3
Michaela Fletcher lost Julianna Alvarez 5 & 3
Lora Assad lost Chantalle Cassidy 6 & 4
Ivanna Samu beat Wenyung Keh 1-up
Eleonora Galletti beat Alanna Campbell

PHOTO: From left to right – Michaela Fletcher, Lora Assad, Ivanna Samu, Eleonora Galletti & Bertine Strauss.

Visit the official Astor Trophy site at http://www.golf.org.au/eventdisplay/astor-trophy/5479

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

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