Williams, Son cruising at Sanlam Women’s SA Amateur Match Play
Report from Lali Stander
RUSTENBURG, North West (13 April 2011) – Stroke Play champion Kim Williams hammered her way to an easy first round victory at the Sanlam Women’s SA Amateur Match Play at Rustenburg Golf Club on Wednesday.
Williams, who strode to a 5 and 4 win over Kippie Zayb, admitted that shifting her focus to the Match Play Championship was easy, but facing Zayb this morning wasn’t.
“I’d never played Kippie before today,” said South Africa’s number one ranked amateur.
“I was a little nervous this morning. I’ve always been a better match play competitor, but you never know what will happen on the day. When you go up against an unknown player, you always worry that they’ll come out firing.
“I think it took winning three in a row from the second to the fourth to really settle me down.”
Zayb managed to halve the next five holes, but the Gauteng North golfer took command after the turn and took the 11th and 12th to set up her first victory.
Williams enjoyed the easy start but knows her second round match against last year’s finalist, Bonita Bredenhann, will be a tester. The Namibian defeated seasoned campaigner Vanessa Smith at the 20th hole to book her spot opposite Williams.
“Both Vanessa and Bonita are tough opponents,” said Williams. “The fact that their match went two extra holes shows you how tough they are. Bonita pushed me all the way last year and I expect her to do the same today. I’ll have to bring my A-game to this match.”
Iliska Verwey and Nobuhle Dlamini were also among the early starters to advance to round two.
It took Dlamini from Swaziland just 13 holes to eliminate Michaela Fletcher while Verwey routed Simone Burger 3 and 2.
Dlamini, the 2009 Match Play champion will face Lara Weinstein, who knocked off Kelly Erasmus 6 and 5 and Verwey will face off against Yvette du Plessis, the 2009 Stroke Play champion.
Former SA number one Bertine Strauss had a tougher time to disperse of Carrie Park, who took the match to the 16th hole.
“I was four under for the first round, but I only managed to win the match at the 16th,” said the local favourite. “That’s match play for you.”
Strauss faces Bianca Theron, who downed Michelle Leigh at the 21st, in this afternoon’s second round.
Meanwhile young Woo-Ju Son also continued to steam along.
The 10-year-old was three-up through the turn and won the last five holes to hand Noeline de Ridder a 7 and 5 hiding. She immediately headed to the putting green to prepare for her second round bout with Bridget Rodrigues, who beat Michelle Swanepoel 5 and 4.
“I won with pars and bogeys; that was the story today,” said Son, who won the B-Division Stroke Play Championship by six strokes on Tuesday. “The chipping was better today, but I struggled again on the greens.”
FIRST ROUND SCORES: A-Division
Kim Williams def Kippie Zayd 5/4
Bonita Bredenhann (NAM) def Vanessa Smith 20th
Nicole Becker def Elru Botha 5/4
Emma-Jo de Bruyn def Sune du Plooy 2-Up
Nicole Loesch def Nicole Garcia 1-Up
Yvette du Plessis def Claire Minter 1-Upp
Iliska Verwey def Simone Burger 3/2
Nobuhle Dlamini def Michaela Fletcher 6/5
Lara Weinstein def Kelly Erasmus 6/5
Lejan Lewthwaite def Angel Eaton (TAN) 6/5
Lauren Bekker def Tiffany Avern-Taplin 1-Up
Henrietta Frylinck def Tanica van As 6/5
Alana van Greuning def Rushda Mallick 1-Up
Bianca Theron def Michelle Leigh 21st
Bertine Strauss def Carrie Park 3/2
FIRST ROUND SCORES: B-Division
Woo-Ju Son def Noeline de Ridder 7/5
Bridget Rodrigues def Michelle Swanepoel 5/4
Thelma Dippenaar def Miche de Pradines 6/5
Kim de Klerk def Christelle Delport 3/1
Shawnelle de Lange def Danielle du Toit 7/5
Valda Ford def Hentie Clack 1-Up
Chiara Contomathios def Francesca Cuturi 2-Up
Wilna Bredenhann def Sabrina Schneider 2-Up