“We are absolutely thrilled with this result,” said Gauteng A manager Gill van der Meulen.
“Not only did our A-team march to an unbeaten victory in this prestigious championship, but our B-team was equally impressive to seal a one-two finish for Gauteng.”
The 2006 champions obliterated Gauteng North B 8.5 – 0.5 in the first round and handed Gauteng North A an 8 – 1 hiding to remain in ascendancy in round two.
“The first two rounds were clinical, but their biggest test was playing their friends in the final round,” Van der Meulen said.
“Gauteng A team won 6.5 – 2.5 against Gauteng B to remain unbeaten, but these girls are all such good friends. It was a challenge for all of them to switch from friends to rivals for the final match.
“The B-team was also the A-team’s strongest opposition all week. Most of the singles matches were very, very tight and the B-team put up a huge fight.”
Gauteng A got off to a solid start in the foursomes to win two games, but Gauteng B scored a huge scalp when Chiara Contomathios and Symone Henriques downed Ivanna Samu and Kaleigh Telfer 3 & 2.
Samu rallied after the foursomes loss and railroaded Symone Henriques 8 & 6 to extend Gauteng A’s lead.
Woo-Ju Son beat Chiara Contomathios 3 & 2, and Eleonora Galletti and Tash Carlsson both won 2-up to put Gauteng A firmly in the driver’s seat.
Kaiyuree Moodley claimed a lone point for Gauteng B when she downed Kajal Mistry 1-up, but Kaleigh Telfer denied the rivals another point when she halved the final game against Shawnelle De Lange.
“It was quite a marvellous experience to watch the tussle between our A- and B-teams and to see all that talent on display,” Van der Meulen said.
“We have a great depth of talent at Gauteng and this victory and our first and second finishes will go a long way in motivation and inspiring our juniors waiting in the wings.
“Our A-team captain Tash Carlsson deserves a special mention. Tash is leaving TuksSport Golf Academy at the end of the year and going to compete in the United States. She showed maturity beyond her years to lead with grace and she will be dearly missed.
“The B-Team and I would also like to salute Sheryl Matthews for her management and support this week. We will look forward to defending our 72-Hole Teams Championship and South African Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship titles next season.”
In the other Division 1 match, Gauteng North A defeated Gauteng North B 6 – 3.
Meanwhile Boland pulled out all the stops to edge out Ekurhuleni 5 – 4 to win Division 2.
Ekurhuleni led the foursomes 2 – 1 but Maggie Minnie, Leanka Vlok, Cassidy Williams and Lynne Behagg reeled in the points to push Boland into pole position on six points.
B-SECTION INTER-PROVINCIAL
Border defeated Eastern Province 4.5 – 1.5 to celebrate their second podium finish this season after the same team staged a come-from-behind performance to lift the B-Section title in the 72-Hole Teams Championship at East London Golf Club in May.
The defending champions were on the back foot after a 4 – 2 first round loss to Free State, but turned the tide with a near clean sweep against North West in round two.
Border trailed Free State and Eastern Province by one point ahead of the final round, but had 7.5 games points in hand after giving North West 5.5 – 0.5 hiding.
Free State, with seven games points, faced off against North West, while Border went head-to-head with neighbours Eastern Province, who brought 6.5 games points into the final round.
Demi Flanagan and Zethu Myeki put Border in the early lead with a 2 & 1 win in the foursomes, while Siviwe and Yolanda Duma looked good to add another point.
The Duma sisters won the 16th hole to go 1-up, Jamie-Lee Daniels and Shene du Toit won the next hole to square the game. They halved the 18th, giving Border a slight lead at 1.5 – 0.5 hole heading into the singles.
Yolanda Duma claimed first blood for Border when she whipped Justine Botten 7 & 6.
Demi Flanagan padded the lead when she defeated Jamie-Lee Daniels 3 & 2 and Siviwe Duma secured the victory for Border when she downed Du Toit lost 3 & 2.
Minette Olivier won the last four holes to beat Zethu Myeki in the final game.
North West defeated Free State 3.5 – 2.5, but it was too little, too late.
Border topped the log with four points, while Free State edged out Eastern Province for second place on game points. Free State finished with 9.5 game points and Eastern Province with eight.
A-SECTION DIVISION 1 FINAL LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Gauteng A (3, 3, 0, 0, 6, 23.0)
2 Gauteng B (3, 2, 0, 1, 4, 14.5)
3 Gauteng North A (3, 1, 0, 2, 2, 11.0)
4 Gauteng North B (3, 0, 0, 3, 0, 5.5)
A-SECTION DIVISION 2 FINAL LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Boland (3, 3, 0, 0, 6, 17.5)
2 Western Province A (3, 2, 0, 1, 4, 14.0)
3 Ekurhuleni (3, 0, 1, 2, 1, 11.5)
4 KwaZulu-Natal (3, 0, 1, 2, 1, 11.0)
B-SECTION DIVISION 1 FINAL LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Border (3, 2, 0, 1, 4, 12.0)
2 Free State (3, 1, 1, 1, 3, 9.5)
3 Eastern Province (3, 1, 1, 1, 3, 8.0)
4 North West (3, 1, 0, 2, 2, 6.5)
B-SECTION DIVISION 2 FINAL LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
1 Southern Cape (3, 3, 0, 0, 6, 13.0)
2 Limpopo (3, 1, 1, 1, 3, 9.5)
3 Western Province B (3, 1, 1, 1, 3, 8.5)
4 Mpumalanga (3, 0, 0, 3, 0, 5.0)
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of Womens Golf South Africa.
