Samu ready to make history of her own at Glendower

It’s one of South Africa’s most historic golf clubs, and top-ranked women’s amateur Ivanna Samu wants to make some history of her own when she tees it up in the Sanlam Women’s South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Glendower Golf Club from 19-21 April.

As the reigning Sanlam Women’s SA Amateur champion, Samu would clearly love to add the stroke play title as well. And especially on a golf course such as Glendower, which has hosted the South African Open on numerous occasions and been the scene of triumph for some of the game’s greats, from Bobby Locke to Vijay Singh.

“It’s a great golf course and one I’ve always enjoyed playing. Even when I haven’t played well there I always have a smile on my face because it feels like a privilege playing that course. It’s got great history, and I’d like to make some history there as well,” said Samu.

As the number-one ranked women’s amateur in South Africa, Samu has enjoyed a solid start to the year, including becoming the first female in several years to win on the popular Glacier Junior Series.

In March, Samu won the A Division of The Els Family Tournament on South Africa’s biggest junior golf series, beating the boys as she claimed the title by four strokes with a round of 65.

And she’s also grown in experience by playing against the professionals on the Sunshine Ladies Tour this year.

Samu finished second to professional Nicole Garcia in the Chase to Investec Cup played at Glendower Golf Club in February. And she added a fifth-place finish in the Sunshine Ladies Tour Open.

“My golf is pretty solid at the moment. I’ve had some good results to start the year, which is what I wanted just in terms of getting my confidence up. Playing against the professionals also helped. The first time I played against them I was so nervous. But it helped me realise what I have to do to be competitive.”

In this sense, Samu has raised her work rate this year, with a particular focus on her fitness.

“I’ve been working really hard on my game and I’ve worked harder on my fitness as well. But just overall I’ve stepped up my work rate because I know it’s harder to stay number one than it is to get there.

“There are so many good players out there now. It used to be that you could shoot over par and still win a women’s amateur tournament. Now you have to shoot under par to win, and many times we’ve shot some low scores and still had to go into a playoff. Women’s golf in South Africa is improving all the time.”

Written and released by Michael Vlismas

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