Samu sizzles in Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur victory

Ivanna Samu claimed her third victory this year and by far the biggest when she won the Sanlam South African Women’s Amateur Championship at Ruimsig Country Club on Wednesday.

Samu beat Lora Assad 2&1 in the final.

“I’m over the moon. When I realised it I just started crying. It means so much to me,” said Samu, who was always one of the favourites playing her home course.

Samu made it through to the final with a 1Up victory over Pretoria’s Ruzanne van der Walt, while Assad went through with a 2&1 victory over Eleanora Galletti.

Samu started strong in the final and was 5Up through seven holes. Assad started to find her stroke on the greens and won three of the next four holes to close the gap to only 2Down. But Samu held on for the biggest win of her career.

“When I was 5Up I wasn’t thinking too much about that. I just wanted to keep playing my own game. And then Lora started holing a few putts and mine started missing. But my brother and caddie did a great job of keeping me focused on playing the golf course and not my opponent. He really kept me in the game,” Samu said.

In the Plate Final, Western Province’s Cara Gorlei beat Jamie-Lee Daniels 7 & 6.

This was one of the strongest fields in recent history in the Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur Championship

And according to Gary van Loggerenberg, Sanlam Sponsorship Manager, the growth of women’s golf is a positive reflection of their long-term sponsorship of the game.

“This is all about creating a platform for our rising stars and investing in the youth of South Africa, and long may that continue,” he said.

FINAL RESULTS

Championship Final
Ivanna Samu beat Lora Assad 2 & 1.

Plate Final
Cara Gorlei beat Jamie-Lee Daniels 7 & 6.

Championship: 3rd & 4th Place Playoff
Eleonora Galletti beat Ruzanne van der Walt 1Up.

Plate 3rd & 4th Place Playoff
Jhanelle Strydom lost to Stephanie Perkins 4 & 3.

Written by Michael Vlismas on behalf of Sanlam and Womens Golf South Africa.