Smith seals SA Women’s Mid-Amateur double
Vanessa Smith from Western Province achieved a memorable SA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship double on a windswept day at St Francis Links on Wednesday.
The flagship event had been reduced to 36 holes after torrential rain caused the first round to be abandoned, but the sun shone on Smith as she thwarted bids from former champions Sandra Winter and Sonja Bland in the final round to triumph.
Smith was one off the pace after an opening 79, but the 37-year-old Milnerton golfer bravely battled a very strong wind to sign for 80 in the final round and win by eight strokes on 15 over 159.
Two-time champion Winter from Kingswood took second with rounds of 84 and 83.
Bland, the winner in 2013, carded 89 in the first round and lagged 11 strokes behind pacesetter Desi Earle from Limpopo.
The Fancourt golfer reeled in four birdies on her way to a 79 to vault to third on 24 over.
Smith was thrilled with the victory, especially given the tough scoring conditions.
“We had to contend with a drizzle and a stiff breeze in the first round, but today the wind was absolutely brutal,” she said.
“I often play in windy conditions at my home course, so I tried to take advantage at the holes with the wind and just tried to hit the fairways and greens at the holes into the wind.
“Some of the holes here are so tight and protected by bush on both sides, and it was really tough to keep it in play in that three-club wind.
“I didn’t have the time to prepare that well this year due to work pressure and I am so pleased that I was still able to defend my title. This victory was very, very sweet.
“It was a great pity that our first round was rained out, but it was a fantastic championship nonetheless and Jeff Clause and the staff were absolutely brilliant.”
Meanwhile the battle for the B-Division title went down the wire.
Carina Theron from Free State and Southern Cape import Erica Millican tied at 35 over in regulation play and the pair set off to the eighth tee to start a sudden-death play-off. Both players parred eighth, but Millican clinched the title when she holed out for par at nine.
“It was the first time that either of us played in a play-off and we were both incredibly nervous,” said Millican, who recently moved from Nottingham Road in KwaZulu-Natal to Plettenberg Bay.
“I’ve been playing golf for 32 years, but I honestly felt like a beginner.
“Of course, they had to start us on the toughest hole on the course. By the time we got to the green, I was shaking like a leaf over the putt and I missed a 2-footer to win the hole.
“I was a lot calmer down nine and I hit a great drive. I had 125 metres to the pin and hit a solid nine-iron into the wind and two-putted for the win. It was a fantastic championship and I am so pleased to go back to Plett with this title in the bag.”
Former Southern Cape Ladies’ Golf president Rita Herholdt took the C-Division on 62 points after posting rounds of 36 and 26.
A-DIVISION RESULT – Click HERE
B-DIVISION RESULT – Click HERE
C-DIVISION RESULT – Click HERE
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of Womens Golf South Africa.