Golf

Van Kan, Gutuza and Sikhonde triumph at Sun City

GolfRSA No 1 Kyra van Kan, Sarah Gutuza and eight-year-old Milani Sikhonde had lots to have fun after scooping the 2023 Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl offered by Sun International titles with excellent performances at Sun City this March.

Reigning South African Amateur champion Van Kan arrived at the Lost City Golf Course in scorching kind after ending because the Leading Amateur within the Sunshine Ladies and Ladies European Tours’ co-sanctioned Investec South African Women’s Open a fortnight ago.

Hot golf at Sun City

She backed up a gap one-under 71 with a 73 on day one within the blistering warmth within the North West and waltzed to a 13-shot victory within the Championship Division, courtesy of an unrivalled third spherical of five-under 67.

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At the tip of the second spherical, Van Kan had bullishly declared that the Lost City Golf Course was there for the taking and she was dissatisfied that she had not taken higher benefit of her alternatives.

She made up for it within the last spherical, firing six birdies in a near-perfect spherical of 67.

“My wedges were pretty nice today and I was able to stick them close,” Van Kan mentioned. “I birdied all the par-fives. I told my dad that I wanted to shoot four-under for the tournament this week, so going five-under was really special. It shows me that I can stick to my game plan and focus on the goal, so, it was a good day for me.”

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Van Kan is properly conscious of the status of this event and the numerous position the Nomads Golf Club of South Africa performs in growing and rising the sport in South Africa.

‘Feeling incredible’ – Van Kan

“This is a huge event and to win at this prestigious venue and against such a strong field is incredible,” she mentioned. “Everything that GolfRSA, the Nomads and Sun International have done to make this event happen is absolutely amazing.”

Fellow GolfRSA National Squad members Gia Raad from Central Gauteng (224) and Kesha Louw from Border (225) completed second and third respectively.

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Gutuza trailed fellow Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club junior Valentina Sakota by 5 photographs after a gap 85, however she rallied with a second spherical 87 to tug two photographs clear within the Silver Division.

The 18-year-old knew she had her work reduce out and she caught to her sport plan. A last spherical 82 was sufficient to safe a well timed victory earlier than she ascends to the championship division.

“This is probably going to be one of my last events in this division before I go to the Championship Division, so this win is a good way to go out,” Gutuza mentioned after her triumph.

“I had a nasty final spherical at the South African Amateur Championships and at the moment, I simply needed to do higher than I did within the final spherical of that event. My placing was lots higher at the moment; I made the comeback putts, and I made the lengthy putts, and I didn’t lose the ball.

“I stuck to my own game plan, and played to my strengths and I didn’t get distracted by what my playing partners were doing. It feels really good to get this one in the bag.”

Fellow Central Gauteng junior Yaone Mokgatle closed with an 87 to complete in second, whereas Ekurhuleni’s  Keira Howroyd and Amy Stanton from Central Gauteng tied for third.

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Young golfers impressing. Image: GolfRSA

Serengeti Golf Estates’ younger sensation and first-time participant on this prestigious occasion, Sikhonde, was the discuss of the city within the Bronze Division at Sun City.

Before the primary tee shot was even fired within the 36-hole Individual Stableford competitors, she declared that her solely goal was to win on debut and Sikhonde was true to her phrase, carding rounds of 35 and 34 for a formidable four-point victory.

“The key for me was to concentrate, do my best and keep on going,” mentioned Sikhonde after claiming the title with 69 factors. “I putted really well, but the other parts of my game were good, too. I am very happy about this win. It means the world to me. It’s my first time playing this tournament and it feels great to win.”

Caitlen van Heerden from Bloemfontein and Western Province pair Aminah Hendricks and Tyra Booysen tied for second on 65 factors at Sun City.

GolfRSA National Squad members scored a clear sweep within the particular person age classes, with Lisa Coetzer from Ekurhuleni profitable the Junior Girls U-12, North West’s Megan Marais the Junior Girls U-14 and Raad from Central Gauteng the Junior Girls U-16.

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION RESULT AT SUN CITY

211 Kyra van Kan 71 73 67
224 Gia Raad 75 77 72
225 Kesha Louw 74 76 75
229 Jasmine Furstenburg 75 76 78
232 Lisa Coetzer 78 76 78; Charlotte Millard 76 76 80
235 Olivia Wood 83 76 76; Casey Twidale 74 79 82
236 Ellandri van Heerden 73 82 81
237 Amy Fletcher 81 82 74
238 Zané Kleynhans 79 81 78
239 Jaime Meth 81 81 77
242 Zanè Fourie 81 83 78
243 Shivania Kalimuthu 85 78 80; Megan Marais 84 83 76
244 Lea van der Merwe 81 83 80; Holly Erler 79 83 82
245 Isabella Williams 80 79 86
246 Olivia Krige 79 80 87
248 Kaylee Webster 89 78 81; Kamaya Moodliar 82 82 84
249 Isabella Obray 82 86 81
250 Lucia Mhlabane 88 82 80
251 Jemima Ullyett 84 75 92; Ame van der Merwe 81 84 86
252 Yuanzhen Wei 87 87 78; Ineke Brynard 83 84 85; Maegan Webster 81 86 85
254 Bea Breedt 86 87 81
255 Erin Bree Brinkman 89 86 80
256 Orateng Maphake 85 83 88; Jaden Visagie 82 88 86
257 Zayaan Hendricks 82 84 91
259 Amy Fusedale 91 85 83; Tebogo Lefifi 88 91 80; Phenyo Sebata 88 87 84
260 Ashley Huysamen 86 87 87
261 Lizerie Raubenheimer 85 83 93
263 Paola Sofia Sakota 82 90 91
WD Kaitlyn van de Vyver 79 WD

SILVER DIVISION RESULT

254 Sarah Gutuza 85 87 82
262 Yaone Mokgatle 91 84 87
263 Keira Howroyd 91 84 88; Amy Stanton 90 89 84
264 Stacey-Lee van Gent 87 89 88
265 Danielle Chong 88 88 89
269 Manule’ Gonsalves 92 85 92
270 Valentina Sakota 80 94 96
271 Charlotte Phipps 95 93 83
272 Monique Fourie 87 92 93
277 Kaitlyn Rix 84 97 96
278 Zoey Rhoda 97 88 93
285 Charlotte Dry 96 98 91
292 Inge De Beer 102 95 95

BRONZE DIVISION RESULT

69 Milani Sikhonde 35 34
65 Caitlen van Heerden 29 36; Aminah Hendricks 29 36; Tyra Booysen 30 35

59 Katlego Selemela 27 32
58 Pia Daya 31 27

56 Gemma Huxham 26 30

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