Top five finishes for SA pair at World Junior
South Africa’s Cara Gorlei and Nicole Hannah tied for fifth and compatriot Bianca Lohbauer finished 15th in the 25-strong Girls A-division field at the Enjoy Jakarta World Junior Golf Championship in Indonesia on Friday.
Gorlei started her campaign in North Jakarta with a promising first round 75, but as gusting winds whipped around the Damai Indah Golf Club on Thursday, she slumped to 12th on the leaderboard after struggling to a disappointing second round 84.
The windy conditions continued, but the gritty 17-year-old Milnerton player navigated the Pantai Indah Japuk course in 73 strokes to sign off on the second lowest round on the final day.
The Western Province golfer played flawless golf over the first nine holes and birdied the par-four eighth to turn in 35. She gave back the advantage with her first bogey at the par-four 10th, but parred the 11th and 12th and dipped under par again with her second birdie at the round at the par-five 13th. She dropped shots at the par-three 15th and par-five 17th, though, for an inward loop of 37.
Pretoria Country Club’s Hannah carded earlier rounds of 74 and 77 and closed with a final round 81 to share the fifth spot on 16-over-par par 232 with Gorlei and Malaysian player Kelie Kan Kah Yan.
The trio finished 14 strokes adrift of winner Kanyalak Preedasuttijit from Thailand.
Preedasuttijit signed off on a nine stroke victory with a blistering three-under-par 69 for a 54-hole total of one-under-par 215, giving Thailand cause for double celebrations.
Earlier, Sarit Suwannarut lifted the Boys A-Division title with a four stroke victory over India’s Feroz Singh Garewal. The Thai player carded rounds of 76-71-72-75 for a 72-hole total of six-over-par 294.
Lohbauer was within striking distance of the lead after an opening 74, but also struggled in the windy conditions in the second round and signed for an 83.
The Paarl golfer fared a little better in the final round with an 81 to finish on 26-over-par 242.