Telfer hits great form at KZN Champs

Kaleigh Telfer kicked her preparation for the All-Africa Challenge Trophy in Tunisia into high gear when she followed team-mates Ivanna Samu and Zethu Myeki into the winner’s circle on the Womens Golf South Africa (WGSA) circuit on Sunday. She fired a course record 66 in the final round at Victoria Country Club to claim a runaway victory on in the KZN Ladies Golf Stroke Play Championship.

Kaleigh Telfer kicked her preparation for the All-Africa Challenge Trophy in Tunisia into high gear when she followed team-mates Ivanna Samu and Zethu Myeki into the winner’s circle on the Womens Golf South Africa (WGSA) circuit on Sunday.

She fired a course record 66 in the final round at Victoria Country Club to claim a runaway victory on in the KZN Ladies Golf Stroke Play Championship.

Telfer triumphed on two-under-par 142, six strokes ahead of joint first round pacesetters, Danielle du Toit and recent Curro SA Juniors International winner Woo-Ju Son, who closed with a pair of 75s to tie for second.

The 17-year-old Bryanston golfer was thrilled to celebrate a return to the podium after taking third in the Eastern Province Stroke Play and runner-up finishes in the North West and Western Province Championships earlier this season.

“It feels really good to hold a trophy again, especially after the start I had,” said Telfer, who lagged three shots behind the co-leaders after opening with a 76.

“I didn’t drive the ball well and I visited the rough too many times. Around this layout that’s suicide. The rough was extremely thick and you couldn’t do much more than punch out to the fairway. After the first round, I went back to basics and drove the ball much better. Although I bogeyed the first hole, I made a great eagle at the first par five (5) and that set the tone for the rest of the round.”

She reeled in birdies at nine and 11 and closed with a trio of birdies to seal the victory.

Telfer competed in the Annika Invitational USA in Florida in February and believes the experience she gained in this highly-rated championship benefited her in the final round.

“The Watson Course at the Reunion Resort was the longest course I’d ever competed on at 5,815 metres and it was also incredibly tight. I was averaging a six-iron into the par fours, where I usually hit pitching wedge into par fours here at home.

“I had to resist frustration and focus on staying patient in Florida, and that experience really helped me to regroup at Victoria Country Club. It’s the kind of course that rewards good shot-making and punishes wayward shots. I was able to stay patient and stay out of trouble and that was the difference between my first and final round.”

Telfer is no stranger to wearing the green and golf, having represented South Africa at the Youth Olympics in 2014 and at the Junior World Cup and Spirit International last year. She was thrilled to join Samu and Myeki on the winner’s list before the team challenges against the rest of Africa at the Citrus Golf Course in Hammamet, Tunisia from 4-9 April.

“Ivanna won the North West Champs and the Pam Golding Properties WP Championship and Zethu claimed the match play championship at the WP Champs after runner-up finishes in the Eastern Province and Border Championships,” said Telfer.

“Nothing gets you pumped up and motivated like a victory and we are really excited about going to Tunisia. None of us have ever represented South Africa in an African event and the All Africa Challenge Trophy is the most prestigious championship on the continent.

“Any time you wear the green and gold, you want to perform and give the best account possible of yourself. It’s a huge honour for us to fly the flag for South Africa this year and it’s reassuring to know that we’ve hit form at the right time.”

KZN Ladies Golf Stroke Play Championship Results – TOP 10
142 Kaleigh Telfer 76 66
148 Woo-Ju Son 73 75; Danielle du Toit 73 75
149 Chiara Contomathios 74 75
150 Sarah Bouch 75 75
151 Zethu Myeki 75 76
152 Shawnelle de Lange 81 71
153 Kaiyuree Moodley 75 78
154 Chloe Royston 76 78; Crystal Cooper 76 78

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of Womens Golf South Africa.

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