South Africa’s number two ranked Ivanna Samu will take a comfortable lead into today’s final round of the Liberty Gauteng North Ladies Open, having pulled five shots clear at Woodhill Country Club on Sunday.
The 17-year-old Ruimsig golfer opened with a four over 76 to lag one shot behind recent Nomads SA Girls Championship winner Danielle du Toit from Gauteng North and Ekurhuleni’s Casandra Hall, but she produced the only sub-par round in round two to pull away from the opposition.
Samu encircled a bogey at the par-four sixth with a pair of birdies and reeled in further gains at 14 and 17 to counter a bogey at the closing hole for two under 70. The GFG Academy player will start the final round at two over 146, with Hall five shots back after posting a 76.
Du Toit added a 77 to tie for third alongside reigning Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl champion Catherine Lau from Woodhill and Caitlyn Macnab from Ekurhuleni. Lau carded successive rounds of 76, while 14-year-old Macnab improved six shots on an opening 79 to join the three-way tie at five over.
Gauteng’s Kajal Mistry sits at nine over after rounds of 76 and 77 and Western Province’s Cara Gorlei – home on a summer break from Arkansas University – finished a further stroke back after posting rounds of 80 and 75.
Western Province’s Jessica Green heads up the B-Division for 10-18 handicaps at the Liberty Gauteng North Ladies Open.
Green from Clovelly Country Club moved into pole position on 29 over with rounds of 88 and 85 and she will start the final round five shots ahead of Woodhill golfer Shanice de Gee and six clear of Liezel Heyns from Glendower Golf Club.
By Lali Stander
Photo credit TWJGC
