KZN seizes 72-Hole Team Champs crown
Michaela Fletcher, Brittney-Fay Berger and Elsune Roode thwarted Gauteng North’s bid for a hat-trick of titles in the 72-Hole Teams Championship at Polokwane Golf Club on Wednesday.
Repeating their winning performance in Mossel Bay three years ago, the KwaZulu-Natal trio caught the defending champions and secured the Swiss Team Trophy with a superb final round effort.
Gauteng A set the pace with an opening 144.
KwaZulu-Natal A trailed by two shots and Ekurhuleni A was a further stroke back, however, successive rounds of 144 for KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday saw the 2014 champions overhaul Gauteng A and finish in pole position alongside Ekurhuleni A, who combined for a second round 143 and posted 144 in the third round.
“Our goal for this year’s event was to try and dethrone Gauteng, but although we talked a big game, we were not certain we could pull it off,” said Roode. “Going into the final round tied with Ekurhuleni and having a three shot cushion over Gauteng really boosted our resolve to fight for the title.”
Fletcher and Berger produced a pair of 72s in the final round to seal the deal for KwaZulu-Natal. The winners signed off with a total score of 578 to beat Gauteng by two strokes.
“We came into the tournament as the underdogs and that label suited us just fine,” said Fletcher. “We slowly worked our way to the top by keeping things simple. Our game plan was to try to beat our opponent’s score in each round and that’s how we pushed to the finish line.”
Memphis University student Fletcher also won the Governor’s Cup as the leading individual in the 72-hole championship on three-under-par 285.
Gauteng’s Kaleigh Telfer, who aided Gauteng to second on 580, was second on even-par 288 and 15-year-old Caitlyn Macnab, who helped Ekurhuleni to third on 585, finished third on 291.
Berger, who played some great golf to finish in a tie for fourth on 293, was over the moon to share in the team’s victory.
“I played in the B-team in 2014 and it was so exciting to cheer the A-team to victory in Mossel Bay, sp I am really happy to be part of the winning team this year,” said the Kloof golfer. “Michaela and Elsune were so supportive and I loved the experience. I think seeing us beat the powerhouses will encourage the other smaller unions and inspire them to dream big and reach for the stars.”
Gauteng did not go home empty-handed, though.
Kelsey Nicholas, Lynette Fourie and Kaiyuree Moodley combined for rounds of 153, 147, 148 and 156 to win the Challenge Trophy. The Gauteng C threesome scored a runaway 14 stroke victory over Kiera Floyd, Jenefer Haw and Carmen Taljaard from Ekurhuleni B.