WP turnaround against Central Gauteng in SA Inter Provincial

Western Province turned on the singles power on Monday when they didn’t lose a single match in the afternoon match against Central Gauteng on the opening day of the South African Inter Provincial golf tournament at Hermanus Golf Club.

It didn’t look good in the morning,” admitted Province captain Werner Theart, after his men stumbled to a 3-1 deficit, “so I’m really happy with the win.”

The only player not to win his singles match in the afternoon was Gregg Upton, and he managed to take a half with a birdie on the last hole to level his match with Patrick Spindler.

Theart was at a loss to explain the turnaround: “Perhaps it was the wind that came up,” he said. He’ll be happy that the forecast is for wind and rain for the rest of the week.

Defending champions Boland defeated Free State 7½-4½ in their opening match, with Keenan Davidse the star for Boland.

He was part of a heavy 7 and 5 win with his partner Hendrik van den Berg over Heinrich Erasmus and Josef Fourie in the morning foursomes play, then handed an 8 and 6 hammering to Barnie Mostert in the singles in the afternoon.

Davidse, ranked 38th in South Africa, was in sublime form all day, reproducing the kind of form which got him third in the Boland Open in Paarl in May when he shot three of the four rounds under par.

Gauteng North lost the singles 4 ½ – 3 ½ but their foursomes lead of 3 ½ – ½ from the morning was enough to take them comfortably home over Ekurhuleni 7-5. Rae Mackie and Johan Nel were two of Gauteng North’s winners, and Kenny Goosen sealed it with a flourish when he hammered Donavan Shaw 7 and 6.

But South Africa’s number 2 player Derik Ferreira suffered a 2 and 1 loss to Ekurhuleni’s Rowan du Preez who is ranked 73rd, while national number 5 Dean O’Riley shared the match with Gauteng North’s 17th-ranked Leon Knoll.

In the B section, KwaZulu-Natal is looking to win to gain promotion for next year when it hosts the tournament, and started in fine style with a 7-5 win over Limpopo. But it took a 5-3 win in the singles in the afternoon after the foursomes were all square. Mark Cox led the way with a 7 and 6 win over Marnus Nel of Limpopo.

Eastern Province overturned a 3-1 deficit from the morning and ran out comfortable 7-5 winners with a 6-2 win in the singles. Only Conrad Gorand-Grant managed a win in the singles for Border, with his 7 and 5 win over Kyle Stevens.

In the other B section match, North West beat Mpumalanga 6 ½ – 5 ½.