GABORONE, Botswana (13 March 2019) – The GolfRSA Girls and Boys teams strengthened their leading positions with another superb effort in round two of the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge in Botswana on Wednesday.
The GolfRSA Girls team produced an eight-under par total of eight-under 138 at Phakalane Golf Estate Hotel Resort, while the GolfRSA Boys combined for a second successive 16-under 200 to keep the hunt for a 21st consecutive victory on track.
Gauteng’s Kaiyuree Moodley fired a six-under 67 to lead the GolfRSA Girls, while Ekurhuleni pair Caitlyn Macnab and Kiera Floyd both posted rounds of 71.
“I was very happy with my overall game, but I need to do some work on my putting,” said the Bryanston golfer. “I gave myself lots of chances but I left a few birdie putts out there.”
The South African trio lead on a total of 15-under 277, with Zimbabwe second on 343.
“Our goal for the second round was a team total of six-under, so I was extremely pleased when the girls combined for 138,” said Womens Golf South Africa President Sally Greasley.
“We started later today, so the team went out in the heat of the day. Without a breath of wind the conditions were tough, but they championed through it.
“The greens are crisping up in the hot weather and were definitely a bit bumpier today, so we left a few lipped putts for birdies out there. The rough right off the fairway is penalising. It’s quite long and you are extremely lucky to find your ball. Loose shots are costly and the short grass next to the greens is equally brutal. It’s very thick and grabs the club, so not a place to be.
“Today is was Kaiyuree’s turn to feel under the weather, but she played beautifully, carding seven birdies against a lone bogey. Kiera was back to full strength and made five birdies and 11 pars, with just a double bogey and a bogey marring an otherwise perfect card.
“Caitlyn, who fired 66 in the first round, had a frustrating day on the greens. Her two-under featured six birdies, but she dropped four shots. It could have been so much better, but her game just wasn’t there today.
“The wonderful thing about this team is that they truly play for each other, and while Caitlyn battled, she knew she could rely on Kaiyuree and Kiera to have her back. The girls once again assisted their opponents with the rules and I was proud to see they knew exactly what the penalties were. It was another great day for South Africa and we look forward to the third round.”
Christo Lamprecht from Southern Cape and Ekurhuleni’s Casey Jarvis led the GolfRSA Boys into battle and the pair respectively posted rounds of seven-under 65 and six-under 66 to set the tone for the day.
Sam Simpson from Western Province returned a 69 and Southern Cape skipper Martin Vorster registered a non-counting 70.
The team’s total score after two rounds stands at 32-under and they lead last year’s runners-up Morocco by 47 strokes. Uganda is a further two strokes adrift in third place.
Second Round Scores – Boys Competition
- 400 South Africa 200 200
- 447 Morocco 229 218
- 449 Uganda 222 227
- 449 Zambia 231 218; Zimbabwe 236 232
- 483 Nigeria 240 243
- 488 Namibia 244 244
- 491 Egypt 248 243
- 502 Eswatini 255 247
- 504 Tanzania 259 245
- 511 Mauritius 254 257; Gabon 259 252
- 528 Botswana 260 268
Second Round Scores – Girls Competition
- 277 South Africa 139 138
- 343 Zimbabwe 173 170
- 372 Nigeria 187 185
PHOTO: The GolfRSA Boys Team got their title defence in the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge off to a solid start with an opening 16-under-par 200 at Phakalane Golf Estate Hotel Resort in Botswana; credit GolfRSA.
Left to right: Martin Vorster (Southern Cape), Casey Jarvis (Ekurhuleni), Sam Simpson (Western Province) and Christo Lamprecht (Southern Cape)
