SAGA Juniors dominate at Challenge Cup
The South African Golf Association Junior side mowed down the Presidents Team to pull into pole position alongside Central Gauteng in the first round of the Challenge Cup Teams Tournament on Monday.
The SAGA Juniors took a 3-1 lead in the foursomes in the sunny conditions at Cullinan Golf Club and wrapped up an 8-5 – 3.5 victory with a commanding performance in the singles.
Dylan Mostert beat Jason Koeries 3 & 1 and Luca Filippi defeated Adriel Poonan 1-up to put the SAGA Juniors in the driver’s seat.
Reigning Nomads SA Boys U-19 Stroke Play champion Tristen Strydom thumped Dylon Jacobs 5 & 4, and Hennie du Plessis added to their tally when he downed Nesville Croy 1-up.
Top ranked SA junior, Jovan Rebula, secured their eighth point with a 5 & 3 win against Evance Vukeya and Gregory McKay added the half point when he halved with Nishalin Nelson.
Vukeya and Poonan defeated McKay and Matt Sualez in the foursomes to put the first point on the board for the Presidents Team that predominantly features players from the South African Golf Development Board.
Hayden Garcia made it two when he defeated Saulez 3 & 2 in the singles, while seasoned campaigner Fezekila Kana beat Luke Mayo 3 & 2 to claim the Presidents Team’s third point.
Meanwhile Central Gauteng scored 3.5 points in the foursomes, and won three straight singles before Western Province could break their momentum.
Dylan Raubenheimer stemmed the bleeding when he defeated Basil Wright 3 & 2 and Dwayne Basson boosted the side with a 4 & 2 win against Dylan Naidoo.
Robert Bougas halved his match with Ludovic Bax, but it was all too little, too late for Province.
A half point from Central’s Jarred Miltz against Joubert van Eeden handed the side an 8.5 – 3.5 victory and a share of the lead in the standings.
In the final match, Gauteng North scored a clean sweep in the foursomes, but had to fight for survival in the singles against the University Sport SA.
Jean-Pierre Cooper downed Marco Loubser 4 & 3 to score the first scalp for Gauteng North, but Hando Brophy hit back for USSA to beat Divan Marais 4 & 3.
USSA’s Wynand Potgieter, Ryan Lane and Michael Dixon won the next three games before Gauteng North’s Matt Bright broke the run with a 4 & 3 result against Andrew van der Knaap.
With the score 6 – 5 in favour of Gauteng North, the side’s Marthin Scheepers halved his match against Christoff Els give the team a narrow 6.5 – 5.5 victory.
First Round Results – click here
Standings after round one – click here
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association.