Tough day for SA quartet in Jakarta

It was an up-and-down day for all four South African juniors competing in the Enjoy Jakarta World Junior Golf Championship in Indonesia, but the quartet did crack the top 10 in all their divisions at Damai Inda Golf in North Jakarta.

Reigning Nomads SA Girl’s Rose Bowl champion Chiara Contomathios opened with a seven-over-par 79 to tie for sixth.

She lags 10 strokes behind playing partner Inez Beatrice from Indonesia,who leads the Girls A-Division (ages 15-17) by three shots from Mayu Hirota from Japan.

Compatriot Woo-Ju Son also signed for a seven over 79 and finished in fifth place in the Girls B-Division (ages 13-14), but is well off the pace from Japan’s Miyuu Goto, who leads on 67.

Steven le Roux had a bumpy start to the second round and slipped to a tie for fifth with a 76, while fellow South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) player Franklin Manchest matched Le Roux’s score to improve to eighth.

Rupert Zaragosa III from the Philipines was the only player in the Boys A-Division (ages 15-17) to break par on a tough scoring day. His second round 68 lifted him to one under 143, leaving Le Roux seven strokes behind and Manchest from KeNako Academy a further three shots adrift.

“It was definitely not a great day for our players, but the scores were overall quite high,” said Womens Golf South Africa vice-president, Sally Greasley.

“Chiara started on the 10th hole and her nemesis was the dreaded par-four 18th, where she found the water and walked off with a quadruple. She rallied with three birdies, though, and holed a great putt for par at her last hole, so I am sure she will come out fight tomorrow.

“Woo-Ju also had a roller-coaster day with two double bogeys and just a lone birdie. The two girls have been drawn together for the second round and I believe it will help them tremendously to have some support on the course. Their playing partner is Amira Ward from Malaysia.

“Steven managed to birdie the fourth hole after a triple bogey start to get back on track. He struggled around the greens, so headed straight for the chipping green after the round. Franklin also carded a 76, improving slightly on his opening 77.

“All the players felt the pins and the conditions were really difficult today. It was around 43 degrees and very humid, and then the wind got up in the afternoon, which made shots into the greens really tricky. Every hole on this course has water on one side or the other, so missing the fairway can be a very expensive exercise.”

OFFICIAL WEBSITE – http://www.jakartaworldjuniorgolf.com/

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

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