SA teams solidify position in Morocco

8 March 2018 – Both South African teams made the most of the weather reprieve in Morocco to cement their positions at the top of the standings in the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge on Wednesday.

After navigating torrential rain and gusting wind in the opening round to take the lead in the Boys Competition, the SA Boys team posted a nine-under-par 207 to 437 at the Royal Dar Es Salam Golf Club. The side leads by 31 strokes from the host union, who registered 220 to remain in second place.

The SA Girls team also enjoyed a productive day in Rabat, returning 150 in the second round to edge 38 shots clear of Zimbabwe in the Girls Competition.

“The guys really played well today and although conditions for 16 of the 18 holes were as close to perfect as you get, the scoring still needed to be done,” said SA Boys team manager Eden Thompson. “The -9 team return was on target with our expectations and we will be looking for more of the same in round three.”

Fresh off his Sanlam SA Amateur Championship victory, Deon Germishuys anchored the side with a superb six-under-par 66. Werner Deyzel went 20 strokes better than his opening 88 and Martin Vorster doubled up on rounds of 73.

“Coming off the sixth hole, you could have been mistaken for thinking Deon was well over par, when in fact he was one-under,” Thompson said. “The frustration followed what he felt was a weak par at the fifth, followed by a sub-standard chip on six that forced him to hole an eight-footer to save par.

“His mood picked up after a little light hearted banter and he birdied the eighth before holing a three-footer for eagle at 12. Deon also birdied the two closing holes for a best of the day 66.

“Werner got off to the worst possible start. He was given an incorrect ruling on the first green and we objected to the referees. I tasked him to use the adversity as a catalyst to start scoring and he responded brilliantly. On completion of the round, we addressed the matter with the two referees and the Tournament Director and the penalty shot was reversed, giving him a four-under-par 68.

“Martin had a tough grind and was not rewarded for the good golf he was playing, and neither was Ayden (Senger), who posted a non-counting 75.”

Germishuys leads the Boys Individual Competition on two-under 142. Vorster is four behind in second, while Deyzel and Senger share fourth on 156 with Ishaq Said from Kenya. Soufiane Dhamane from Morocco is third after rounds of 78 and 71.

South Africa’s top ranked Kajal Mistry, who Kajal Mistry, Caitlyn Macnab and Symone Henriques all posted rounds of three-over 75.

Mistry, won the Girls Individual Competition last year, once again moved to the top of leaderboard, with Macnab second and Henriques third. Intissar Rich from Morocco sits fourth on 161 and Georgia Oboh from Nigeria is a further five strokes adrift in fifth.

“We all heaved a huge sigh of relief when we woke up to clear skies,” said Womens Golf South Africa president Sally Greasley.   It was still pretty grey and cool, but eventually we had little glimpses of blue sky and even a bit of sunshine.

“Caitlyn pulled her driver into the trees right at the first and started off with a seven on her first hole, the eighth, and also dropped a shot at 11 from the fairway bunker. At the 12th, a long par five with water all along the left, she was stung on the right hand by a wasp just as she hit her tee shot.

“Her hand swelled considerably, but after a double bogey, her fortune changed and birdied the 16th and the tough 18th hole. She also birdied the first and fifth, two-putted the sixth and made a great par at seven for a 75.

“Kajal made a battling start and was six over after six holes, but she steadied the ship with great birdies at 16 and 18. She birdied the first and the fifth, but unfortunately she missed a par putt on the sixth.

“Symone had very steady day with three bogeys and no birdies and is starting to find her rhythm. All three girls feel that they can go lower, and if the weather plays ball, I expect them to shoot some red numbers on Thursday.”

Boys Teams Competition – Round 2
437 South Africa 230 207
468 Morocco 248 220
493 Uganda 255 238
498 Kenya 256 242
520 Zimbabwe 276 244
524 Egypt 271 253
531 Nigeria 270 261
533 Zambia 279 254
536 Tanzania 273 263
542 Tunisia 277 265
549 Namibia 276 273
571 Gabon289 282
602 Mauritius 313 289

Girls Teams Competition – Round 2 Scores
314 South Africa 164 150
352 Zimbabwe 185 167
354 Morocco 178 176
365 Nigeria 182 184
368 Kenya 198 170
386 Tunisia 200 186
413 Uganda 220 193
429 Egypt 219 210

Boys Individual – Round 2
142 Deon Germishuys RSA 76 66
146 Martin Vorster RSA 73 73
149 Soufiane Dhamane MOR 78 71
156 Werner Deyzel RSA 88 68; Ayden Senger RSA 81 75; Ishaq Said KEN 81 75
158 Amine El Kharraz MOR 86 72; David Kamulindwa UGA 82 76
164 Mohamed Nizar Bourehim MOR 87 77; William Geach ZIM 85 79

Girls Individual – Round 2
156 Kajal Mistry RSA 71 75
158 Caitlyn Macnab RSA 83 75
160 Symone Henriques RSA 85 75
161 Intissar Rich MOR 82 79
166 Georgia Oboh NIG 80 86
174 Emily Jones ZIM 90 84
178 Danielle Bekker ZIM 95 83
182 Margaret Nyamukondiwa ZIM 95 87
186 Mwangi Chenelle KEN 100 86
188 Gachaga Kellie Wahito KEN 104 84

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA, a SAGA and WGSA Not-For-Profit company.