It took a feisty comeback in the Singles, but the South African Golf Association (SAGA) Juniors got their title defence in the Challenge Cup underway, while the Gauteng North and the South African Universities sides also came up trumps in round one at Parkview Golf Club on Monday.
The SAGA Juniors were on the back foot after losing two games and halving another against the President’s team in the Foursomes, but a spirited performance in the Singles secured the defending champions an 8 – 4 win.
Therion Nel from Free State drew first blood for the SAGA Juniors when he defeated Hilmi Mallick from the Western Province 6 & 5. Christo Lamprecht, Anuerin Gounden, Martin Vorster, Luca Filippi and Dylan Mostert piled on the points.
Sentanio Minnie from Ekurhuleni gained a point for the President’s Team when he beat reigning Curro SA Junior International Boys champion Garrick Higgo 3 & 2, but Werner Deyzel claimed a half point for the SAGA Juniors when he halved his clash against Karabo Mokoena.
The host union and Gauteng North drew 2-all in the Foursomes and took a 4 – 2 lead after Cameron Moralee and Dylan Naidoo both won 6 & 5.
However, Ruan Conradie hit back for Gauteng North, defeating Tyrone Gibb 4 & 3 and Christopher van der Merwe levelled the scores when he downed Keegan Steyn 3 & 2. Richard Joubert put Gauteng North ahead, but Estiaan Conradie lost to David Mcintyre 2 & 1 and the teams were level again.
Dylan Kok gave Gauteng North a 6 – 5 lead when he knocked out Kyle Barker 2 & 1 and Philip Kruse squared against Jason Rossiter to secure a 6.5 – 5.5 victory for the Daisies.
The SA Universities team (USSA) rode a 2.5 – 1.5 Foursomes lead to a tightly contested 6.5 – 5.5 victory against Western Province.
Phillip Swanepoel, Clayton Mansfield and Andrew van der Knaap scored the winning blows for USSA in the Singles, but Christian Helmbold, Geno Belfiore and Paul Colditz reeled in points for Province. It came down to the last two games, but Andrè van Zyl and Luke Jerling battled to halve their games to secure the win for USSA.
SAGA Juniors 8 vs Presidents Team 4
Foursomes:
Nel / Deyzel beat Mallick / Shaw 4 & 3;
Lamprecht / Gounden halved with Mwandla / Mokoena;
Filippi / Vorster lost to Minnie / le Roux 5 & 4;
Mostert / Higgo lost to Croy / Manchest 3 & 2;
Singles:
Therion Nel beat Hilmi Mallick 6 & 5;
Christo (Jnr) Lamprecht beat Chandler Shaw 2 & 1;
Werner Deyzel halved with Karabo Mokoena;
Anuerin Gounden beat Steven le Roux 1Up;
Martin Vorster beat Siyanda Mwandla 6 & 4;
Garrick Higgo lost to Sentanio Minnie 3 & 2;
Luca Filippi beat Franklin Manchest 2 & 1;
Dylan Mostert beat Neswill Croy 5 & 4;
Gauteng North 6.5 vs Central Gauteng 5.5
Foursomes:
Joubert / Kok beat Mediratta / Steyn 2 & 1;
Van der Merwe / Kruse beat Barker / Rossiter 3 & 2;
Conradie / Conradie lost to Mcintyre / Gibb 1Down;
Venter / Mclachlan lost to Naidoo / Moralee 4 & 3;
Singles:
Richard Joubert beat Mohit Mediratta 2 & 1;
Christopher van der Merwe beat Keegan Steyn 3 & 2;
Dylan Kok beat Kyle Barker 2 & 1;
Philip Kruse halved with Jason Rossiter;
Estiaan Conradie lost to David Mcintyre 2 & 1;
Ruan Conradie beat Tyrone Gibb 4 & 3;
Keegan Mclachlan lost to Cameron Moralee 6 & 5;
Albert Venter lost to Dylan Naidoo 6 & 5;
USSA 6.5 vs Western Province 5.5
Foursomes:
Van Zyl / Swanepoel beat Agherdien / Helmbold 4 & 3;
Loubser / van der Knaap halved with Belfiore / Colditz;
Lane / Plint lost to Garcia / van Zyl 5 & 4;
Mansfield / Jerling beat Barnard / Germishuys 1Up;
Singles:
Andrè van Zyl halved with Ruben van Zyl;
Andrew Plint lost to Christian Helmbold 3 & 2;
Marco Loubser lost to Geno Belfiore 1Down;
Phillip Swanepoel beat Mujahid Agherdien 1Up;
Ryan Lane lost to Paul Colditz 4 & 3;
Clayton Mansfield beat Deon Germishuys 2 & 1;
Andrew van der Knaap beat Hayden Garcia 4 & 3;
Luke Jerling halved with Elmo Barnard
By Lali Stander
