Western Province mowed down Southern Cape on day one to strengthen their bid for successive victories in the 58th South African Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship at Devonvale Golf and Wine Estate on Wednesday.
But Ekurhuleni showed some serious spunk to match the defending champions with a winning start
A SECTION
DIVISION 1
Western Province capitalised on gentle conditions in the morning to score a clean sweep in the foursomes. Zayb Fredericks, Kelly Erasmus, captain Kaylah Williams and Vicki Traut racked up four points to guarantee a 7-2 result for the defending champions.
Ekurhuleni had more work to do against former champions Gauteng after the two teams drew 1.5-1.5 in the foursomes.
Kiera Floyd took first blood for Ekurhuleni when she routed Eleonora Galletti 6 & 4 and Nadia van der Westhuizen backed her up with a 5 & 4 win over Marine Legentil.
Captain Caitlyn Macnab and 2018 Sanlam SA Women’s Stroke Play champion Casandra Hall both won 3 & 1 to take the team’s tally to four points.
Kera Healy hit back for Gauteng, beating Kyra van Kan 5 & 3, but Teagan Lubbe pushed home a 6.5-5.5 victory when she knocked out Kim Turgut 2 & 1.
Western Province and Ekurhuleni both gained two points, but the 2017 winners moved into the top spot in the log with a half point game’s advantage.
PHOTO: Ekurhuleni got off to a winning start on day one of the 58th SA Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship (from left to right Nadia van der Westhuizen, Casandra Hall, Kiera Floyd, Teagan Lubbe, Caitlyn Macnab (captain) and Kyra van Kan, by GolfRSA
A SECTION
DIVISION 2
Local favourites Boland redeemed themselves after finishing in the bottom draw after the seeding round by routing Gauteng North 6.5-2.5.
The two teams tied in the foursomes, but Bianca Wernich, at number one, set Boland on a winning course when she defeated Shanice de Gee 8 & 6. Annerie Coetzee, Crystal Beukes and Megan Streicher also won their matches, while Maggie Minnie and Shani Brynard halved against Daisies captain Larissa du Preez and Lenanda van der Watt respectively.
B SECTION
DIVISION 1
Mpumalanga and Border both made a superb start to the promotion battle.
Mpumalanga’s Petrone Rudolph and Nicola Schoeman won 5 & 3 and Chante Boonstra and captain Patrizia Lombard combined for a 4 & 3 to take a 2-1 lead over Western Province B into the foursomes. Lombard halved against Kayla Paulsen, but Boonstra, Rudolph and Schoeman cleaned up in the singles to deliver a 5.5-0.5 result.
Border defeated Free State 5-1.
Demi Flanagan and Luzan Esterhuizen 2 & 1 and seasoned veteran Millie Zim-Dondashe boxed an 18-foot putt for birdie at the last to make it two-for-two in the foursomes.
Flanagan took the first scalp in the singles with a 4 & 3 win against Mariane Payne. Pieterse won 2Up and Esterhuizen 3 & 2, but the captain bowed out 7 & 5 to Free State number one Gabbi Venter.
B SECTION
DIVISION 2
Eastern Province and Northern Cape came up trumps in their first-round clashes.
Having beaten Limpopo 2-0 in the foursomes, Cherilee Knoetze and Zahn Scholtz delivered the winning blows for Eastern Province to secure a 4-2 victory.
Northern Cape halved their foursomes against North West, but Elmien van Niekerk, Mikah Poonawassy and Magri Beukes reeled in 3 points to give Northern Cape a 3.5-2.5 start in the championship.
A SECTION
DIVISION 1
Western Province 7 Southern Cape 2
Ekurhuleni 6.5 Gauteng 2.5
A SECTION
DIVISION 1 LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Western Province A (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 7)
2 Ekurhuleni (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 6.5)
3 Gauteng (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 2.5)
4 Southern Cape (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 2)
A SECTION
DIVISION 2
Gauteng North 2.5 Boland 6.5
A SECTION
DIVISION 2 LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Boland (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 6.5)
2 Gauteng North (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 2.5)
B SECTION
DIVISION 1
Mpumalanga 5.5 Western Province B 0.5
Border 5 Free State 1
B SECTION
DIVISION 1 LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Mpumalanga (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 5.5)
2 Border (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 5)
3 Free State (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1)
4 Western Province B (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0.5)
B SECTION
DIVISION 2
Eastern Province 4 Limpopo 2
North West 2.5 Northern Cape 3.5
B SECTION
DIVISION 2 LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Eastern Province (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 4)
2 Northern Cape (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 3.5)
3 North West (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 2.5)
4 Limpopo (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 2)