Tuks undefeated at USSA Champs
The University of Pretoria successfully defended their title at the USSA (University Sport South Africa) Championship when they beat North West University in spectacular fashion at Koro Creek Golf Estate in Limpopo on Friday.
Marco Loubser, Andrew van der Knaap, Stephen Morrison and rookie Reinardt Blaauw stole the march on NWU Tukke to claim a fifth victory for Tuks since 2008 with an emphatic 5 -1 drubbing.
Wynand Potgieter managed to ward off a clean sweep when he downed Loubser in the singles.
“We are thrilled with the victory,” said Tuks 1 manager, Llewellyn van Leeuwen.
“We had a really tough battle to get past The Golf School of Excellence Johannesburg in the semis to make the final and this is the icing on the cake. Every member of the team gave it their best effort and the boys will relish this victory for a long time.”
Van der Knaap and Blaauw combined to win their foursomes against Eben Zietsman and Rikus Vermooten 4&2, while Loubser partnered Morrison to beat Potgieter and Francois Kruger 3&2.
Tuks 1 led in three of the four singles going through the turn, however, Potgieter had a 4-up lead over after he aced the seventh and he clinched the game against Loubser 5&4.
Morrison birdied the 14th and 16th and holed a birdie putt at the 17th to beat Vermooten 4&2.
Blaauw protected a 1-up lead against Zietsman with an ace at the 12th. The NWU Pukke player fought valiantly to keep the pressure up, but a three-putt at the 17th was all Blaauw needed to tap in for a 2&1 win.
Van der Knaap lost the 14th and 15th and was 1-down heading down the closing stretch.
“Reinardt had won the final for us, but we decided to punk Andrew, who got it back to all square heading down the last,” Van Leeuwen said.
“We told him he needed to win and he responded by winning his game against Francois 1-up.”
Van Leeuwen was impressed by both the standard of golf at this year’s championship and the sportsmanship among the teams.
“The standard of golf this year was outstanding and University golf is definitely very healthy,” the TuksGolf Club & Academies head coach said.
“I was also impressed by the spirit in which the matches were played. Friendship and camaraderie definitely trumped rivalry. Even the two teams played under immense pressure in the final, there was a fantastic spirit between the players.”
Other Divisions
The Golf School of Excellence Pretoria claimed their B-Flight final against Cape Peninsula University of Technology A with a slender 3.5 – 2.5 victory, while Varsity College B downed Varsity College C 4 -2 for the C-Flight title and North West University Vaal claimed the D-Flight with a 4 – 2 victory against the University of Cape Town B.
FINAL STANDINGS
A FLIGHT
1. UP 1
2. NWU 1
3. UP 2
4. TGSE JHB
5. UJ 1
6. US 1
7. CA 1
8. NMMU 1
B FLIGHT
1. TGSE PTA
2. CPUT 1
3. CA 2
4. VC 1
5. US 2
6. CUT 1
7. UCT 1
8. NWU 2
C FLIGHT
1. VC 2
2. VC 3
3. NMMU 2
4. UJ 2
5. TGSE INVITATIONAL
6. CUT 2
7. RHODES 1
8. CPUT 2
D FLIGHT
1. NWU-VAAL
2. UCT 2
3. RHODES 2
4. UZ
PHOTO – University of Pretoria 1 team. From left to right – Reinardt Blaauw, Marco Loubser, Stephen Morrison and Andrew van der Knaap.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the USSA Championship and the South African Golf Association.