GOLF NEWS - Central Gauteng began bid for a record 30th title in the South African Inter-Provincial Tournament with a strong performance on day one, while local heroes KwaZulu-Natal made a big stand in the promotion battle at San Lameer Country Club on Monday.
A-SECTION
Central Gauteng came out firing in the foursomes and claimed the first 3 points on offer against neighbours Gauteng North. Taking some nice momentum into the afternoon session, the team racked up a further 5 points – including 2 halves – for an 8 – 4 result.
New caps Hannes Strooh (No 8) and Amilkar Bhana (No 6) both enjoyed 6 & 5 on debut, while two more first-timers, Jaden Deltel and Simon du Plooy, both halved their games. David Opperman was no match for reigning SA Mid-Amateur Stroke Play champion Ryan Dreyer, who on his match 7 & 5 and the side’s No 1 Adam Breen closed out the session with a 3 & 2 win against Werner Deyzel.
The Lions will face Western Province on day two.
Province edged Southern Cape 6.5 – 5.5 and last year’s B-Section champions North West defeated 2019 winners Ekurhuleni by the same narrow margin.
Ekurhuleni tackle Gauteng North, while North West will be looking for back-to-back victories when the side faces Southern Cape on day two.
B-SECTION
KwaZulu-Natal bellowed their intention with a decisive 11 – 1 victory against Border, but Boland and Eastern Province were equally impressive on the opening day.
After a clean sweep in the foursomes, KwaZulu-Natal lost their only point to Oswin Schlenkricht, who beat Jason Gilliver 6 & 5.
Thabiso Magwaza (No 8) and Nathan Trodd (No 7) won 3 & 2 and 5 & 3 to get the hosts back on track, while Thomas Lovett, Gavin Sole, Dan Bennett, Chris Erasmus and recent KwaZulu-Natal Amateur champion Jonothan Broomhead delivered the rest of the blows to Border.
Sixteen-year-olds Hannes Strooh and Amilkar Bhana both won their debut games for Central Gauteng 6 & 5 on day 1 of the SA Inter-Provincial Tournament to help the Lions beat Gauteng North 8 – 4 at San Lameer Country Club; Photo: GolfRSA.
Eastern Province rode the momentum of a 3 – 1 foursomes lead to a 9 – 3 victory against Free State, with big points coming from the bankers JP van der Watt (5 & 4), Kyle de Beer (5 & 4) and a 6 & 5 stunner from the skipper, Altin van der Merwe.
Boland, meanwhile, defeated Mpumalanga 8.5 – 3.5 and the team will be hoping for more of the same when they take on Border on Tuesday.
Mpumalanga and Free State have a chance to put some points on the log when they go head-to-head, while Eastern Province will take the fight to the local heroes.
A-SECTION – Round 1 Results
- North West 6.5 – Ekurhuleni 5.5
- Western Province 6.5 – Southern Cape 5.5
- Central Gauteng 8 – Gauteng North 4
A-SECTION LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
- 1 Central Gauteng (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 8)
- T2 Western Province (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 6.5)
- T2 North West (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 6.5)
- T4 Ekurhuleni (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 5.5)
- T4 Southern Cape (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 5.5)
- 6 Gauteng North (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 4)
B-SECTION – Round 1 Results
- KwaZulu-Natal 11 – Border 1
- Boland 8.5 – Mpumalanga 3.5
- Eastern Province 9 – Free State 3
B-SECTION LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
- 1 KwaZulu-Natal (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 11)
- 2 Eastern Province (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 9)
- 3 Boland (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 8.5)
- 4 Mpumalanga (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 3.5)
- 5 Free State (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 3)
- 6 Border (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1)
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