Showdowns loom at USSA Champs

The University of Pretoria held off North West University Pukke in last year’s final to claim their ninth USSA (University Sport South Africa) Championship title, but Pukke may have their day after both teams cruised through the first round contests in the Inter-Institutional Match Play Championship on Wednesday.

NWU Pukke 1 handed Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 1 a 5.5 – 0.5 drubbing to book their semi-final spot opposite Varsity College 1, who claimed a 4 – 2 victory against Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 2.

Tuks 1 defeated Stellenbosch 1 by the same margin and are targeting their third consecutive final, but the four-man side will have to get past their peers from Central University of Technology Free State, who whipped the Tuks 2 side 4 – 2.

NWU 1 took a clean sweep in the Foursomes, with Francois Kruger and Riaan Swart winning 4&2 and Rikus Vermooten and Eben Zietsmann claiming a 2&1 win.

Vermooten kept the team on track with a 5&3 result in the Singles, Swart won 4&2 and Kruger continued the destruction with a 1-up victory.

Colin Baldie from NMMU 1 scored the side’s only point when he squared his game against Swart.

Tuks 1 didn’t have all their way, but after a draw in the Foursomes, claim three Singles to win.

Ryan Lane took first blood when he beat Riaan Schmulian 7&6, Stephen Morrison dispatched Richard Fawcett 2&1 and Reinhardt Blaauw defeated Christiaan Rossouw 1-up.

Matie Phillip Swanepoel, who won the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifier, beat Marco Loubser 2&1.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology 1 also cleaned up in the Foursomes, while Deon Jamneck and Shane Ross came up trumps in the Singles.

Jamneck beat Jono Dixon 2&1 and Ross won 3&2 against Jonty Sacks.

Varsity College 1 scored a clean sweep in a tightly contested Foursomes and were made to work hard for victory in the Singles against Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 1.

Shane Martin halved against Arnoldis van Wyk and Clayton Mansfield drew against Jason Wolmarans, while Michael Ryan defeated Timothy Banks 5&4. NNMU 1’s Willem Marais defeated Colin Campher 2&1.

ROUND ONE RESULTS (RS = result)
North West University Pukke 1 BEAT Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 1 RS 5.5 – 0.5
Cape Peninsula University of Technology 1 BEAT University of Cape Town 1 RS 4 – 2
University of Pretoria 1 BEAT Stellenbosch University 1 RS 4 – 2
Varsity College 1 BEAT Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 2 RS 4 – 2
Central University of Technology Free State BEAT University of Pretoria 2 RS 4 – 2
North West University Pukke 2 BEAT Rhodes University 2 RS 5.5 – 0.5
North West University Vaal BEAT Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2 RS 3.5 – 2.5
Centurion Academy 1 BEAT Rhodes University 1 RS 4 – 3 (play-off)
University of Cape Town 2 BEAT University of Zululand RS 4 – 2
University of Johannesburg 1 BEAT Varsity College 2 RS 4 – 3 (play-off)
University of Johannesburg 2 Bye
Stellenbosch University 2 Bye

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the USSA Championship and the South African Golf Association.