SA team wraps up Four Nations Cup in New Zealand

Although Australia had to hold off a late rally from New Zealand, solid performances under pressure from Brett Drewitt and Todd Sinnott ensured a wire-to-wire win for the pacesetters at the inaugural Four Nations Cup in New Zealand.

The Kiwis staged an impressive fight back in the final round at The Hills near Queenstown, reducing the gap to just three
shots at one stage. But the Australians team held up under pressure.

Australia finished 11 strokes ahead of New Zealand on 851, with Sinott, Drewitt and Ryan Peak combining for a final round six-under-par 210.

Temporarily derailed by cold weather and rain in the second round, Argentina made the most of the warm conditions.

The Argentinean quartet launched an impressive final round assault to sign for an even-par 216 that saw them leapfrog South Africa to third place on 885.

For a third successive day, Brandon Stone underlined his status as South Africa’s leading amateur by carding the low round for the team. Stone’s 71 led the way, with Haydn Porteous adding a 74 to the team total and Ruan de Smidt carded a 76 to round out a five-over-par 221.

Captain Jared Harvey, who has been fighting flu all week, signed for a disappointing 77 and the South African side finished in fourth and last place on 889.

“Our players are very disappointed with their performance this week,” said South African Golf Association’s Executive Director Bruce Younge.

“Right from the start of the tournament our boys struggled on the greens and never really got the measure of them. It was a
week of missed putts and close shaves and their performance just lacked the fireworks we are generally known for.”

Young said that Harvey fought flu all week, so his performance was certainly been below par, but the other players were not
shooting to their potential either.

“There were flashes of brilliance but, with the exception of Brandon, our players lacked consistency,” said Younge. “They felt very frustrated that they couldn’t make more of their solid form off the tee. For every birdie we got, the other teams made three or four. And for every birdie, we missed out or lipped out for bogey.

“Those are the breaks, though. Now we are looking ahead to the Shirley Open, where they will hopefully get the chance to
show the world what they are really capable of.”

Round Four Team Leaderboard:

851 Australia 216, 222, 203, 210

862 New Zealand 223, 216, 216, 207

885 Argentina 220, 230, 219, 216

889 South Africa 225, 222, 221, 221

Posted in