Western Province prevails at SA Women’s IPT
Cara Gorlei struck the winning note for Western Province A victory in the 54th Pick n Pay SA Women’s Inter-Provincial at Royal Cape Golf Club on Friday.
Province number one Gorlei boxed a crucial pressure putt to halve her game against Woo Ju Son and force 4.5 all draw against Gauteng B to hand the local favourites their first victory in the prestigious team championship since 1999.
Western Province took a 2-1 lead in the Foursomes, but two early losses let Gauteng B back into the match. Sammy Barber beat Kajal Mistry 5 & 4 and Zayb Fredericks defeated Jacqui Akers 3 & 2 to put Western Province in front again, but Amy Henning went down 3 & 2 to Chiara Contomathios and the match was back to all square.
Gorlei showed her composure under pressure when she lifted the Nomads SA Girls Championship title in a three-way play-off in Orkney, however, the reigning Nomads SA Girls Rosebowl champion battled off the tee throughout the round.
When the news reached her, Gorlei had just squandered a 1-up lead over Son. A wayward drive at the 17th left the pair all square and the pressure was on Gorlei.
Unfortunately, the Milnerton golfer’s troubles off the tee continued at the 18th.
“I struggled all day and Woo-Ju just split the fairway on every hole,” Gorlei said. “The 18th was no different. She took driver and just missed the fairway bunker. To take the bunker out of play, I took three-wood of the tee. Wouldn’t you know it, I hit it in the bunker.
“The pin was middle right and Woo Ju’s approach landed to the left of the green. I splashed out, but still had 40 meters to the green. I hit the pitch perfect, but the ball nicked the cup and lipped out.”
Son’s first putt headed straight for the hole, but Gorlei got a reprieve.
“Her putt also lipped out and ball lagged three feet past the hole,” she said. “I knew it was a must-make putt. Six foot, right to left and I timed it perfectly. It was brilliant, because I wasn’t just putting for myself; I was putting for the whole team.”
Gorlei’s half point was not only a victory for Western Province, but a salute to the union’s commitment to junior golf development.
“Cara and six other players in the A and B teams came through our Junior Development Programme,” said Women’s Golf Western Province president, Sarah Braude.
“The victory not only shows the strength of junior golf in our province, but also underlines the importance of our programme. The exposure and experience the juniors enjoyed this week will stand them in good stead as they continue to improve and advance.”
Meanwhile Gauteng A defeated Gauteng North 5.5 – 3.5 to finish second in the standings to force the defending champions to third in the standings.
In the Division 2 matches, Boland beat KwaZulu-Natal 5.5 – 3.5, while Ekurhuleni handed Gauteng North B a 6.5 – 2.5 drubbing.
Meanwhile Border secured the coveted B-Section promotion with two victories and a 3-all draw against North West Province in the final round.
FINAL LOGS
A Section Division 1
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Western Province A (3, 2, 1, 0, 5, 15.5)
2 Gauteng A (3, 1, 1, 1, 3, 13.0)
3 Gauteng North A (3, 1, 0, 2, 2, 15.5)
4 Gauteng B (3, 0, 2, 1, 2, 10.0)
A Section Division 2 – LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Boland (3, 3, 0, 0, 6, 19.5)
2 Kwazulu Natal (3, 2, 0, 1, 4, 16.5)
3 Ekurhuleni (3, 1, 0, 2, 2, 9.5)
4 Gauteng North B (3, 0, 0, 3, 0, 8.5)
Photo – Western Province lifted the 54th Pick n Pay South African Women’s Inter-Provincial title at Royal Cape Golf Club; credit WPWG
L-R: Sarah Braude (President, Womens Golf Western Province), Jade Gray, Nadia Lawrance, Cara Gorlei, Sam Barber, Zayb Fredericks, Amy Henning, Anne Roos (Manager)
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of Womens Golf South Africa.