LANGEBAAN, 26 March 2019 – South African number one Kaylah Williams lifted the prestigious Nomads SA Girl’s Rose Bowl Championship trophy after she edged out overnight leader Caitlyn Macnab in a pressure-packed final round at Langebaan Golf and Sports Club on Tuesday.
South Africa’s number one ranked Kaylah Williams from Western Province celebrated a one-stroke victory in the Nomads SA Girl’s Rose Bowl Championship at Langebaan Golf and Sports Club; credit GolfRSA.
The Western Province junior carded a two-under-par 70 in the final round to close out a one-stroke victory on one-over 217.
Williams began the final day on three-over and a shot behind fellow GolfRSA Elite Squad member Macnab, but a couple of birdies on the outward loop helped the Bellville golfer to race into the lead with nine holes to go.
“I started with a great up-and-down after half-shanking a 5-iron from the middle of the fairway,” said Williams, who managed to save par while Macnab bogeyed the opening hole.
“Saving par gave me a nice confidence boost, but Caitlyn took back the lead with a birdie at the third.
At the fourth, I hit a great bunker shot and I holed a three-metre putt middle cup to draw level again.”
The Bellville golfer missed birdie chances at five and eight, but edged into the lead when she answered bogeys from Macnab at seven and nine with a birdie before the turn.
“The ball went straight over the hole at five and my putt skimmed the hole at eight, but I stayed patient; I knew I’d get one of those birdies back,” said Williams.
“At the ninth, I stiffed my gap-wedge to tap-in and I led by three shots when Caitlyn dropped another shot at 11. I extended my lead with a two-putt birdie at the par five (12). I hit a good drive and my 5-iron approach hopped out of the bunker on to the green.”
South Africa’s top ranked junior hit back with a brace of birdies at 12 and 13 to shorten the gap and Williams led by just a single shot with two holes after bogeys at 14 and 16.
“I got nervous and I choked,” admitted Williams. “I had a birdie chance at 13, but misread the line, but Caitlyn made hers to put some pressure on me.
“During the practice round I hooked two tee shots at 14. I told my dad, who was on my bag, that I dreaded this hole. The wind was coming off the right and I worried I’d hook the tee shot again. I hit a perfect tee shot, though, and then I choked on the approach and ended up two-putting for bogey.
“At 16. I pulled my 6-iron into the bunker. I took the wrong club out of the bunker, and I knew it was a mistake as soon as I hit the trap shot. Another two-putt bogey.”
Macnab had Williams on tenterhooks when she got a good look at an eagle at the final hole to force the tournament into over-time.
“We both parred 17 and I stood on the 18th tee with a one shot lead; my dad wanted me to go down the right, but I took out the driver and took the Tiger line,” Williams said.
“I got rewarded for the aggressive approach with a perfect lie in the middle of the fairway. Caitlyn also hit a good drive, but she caught some wind and her ball finished in the first cut of the rough. We both hit the green in two, though, and the pressure mounted.
“I lagged my first putt about 2 feet short of the hole. Caitlyn’s eagle putt just rimmed the hole and she tapped in for birdie. I took a huge breath when I stood over my putt. I just told myself this is the one you have to make and it dropped. We both played really solid golf and it was a great contest, right up to the final putt.”
It’s the second win of the season for Williams, but her first success on the junior circuit helped her to close the gap on Macnab in the GolfRSA Junior Rankings.
“Every junior on the circuit dreams of winning one of the two Nomads national junior championships, and I am over the moon,” Williams said. “I came close last year but couldn’t pull it through at Royal Cape, so I am extremely pleased with this result.
“I am so grateful to Nomads for giving me and everyone this wonderful event and the Nomads SA Girls Championship at Orkney and I would like to thank GolfRSA and Womens Golf South Africa for the opportunity to play in two world-class events. And lastly, thank you to Caitlyn for an intense battle in the final round.”
Macnab from Ekurhuleni took second on two-over with a final round 72.
Gauteng junior Kaiyuree Moodley closed with an even-par 72 to finish third on 221, while Kiera Floyd from Ekurhuleni and Gauteng’s Symone Henriques tied for fourth on seven-over after rounds of 73.
Anita Chen went wire-to-wire with rounds of 91, 94 and 86 to win the Silver Division by two shots from fellow Western Province junior Jemma Louw, while Western Province’s Kim Albertus took the honours in the Bronze Division on 60 points with rounds of 26 and 30.
Championship Division Result (top 10)
217 Kaylah Williams 74 73 70
218 Caitlyn Macnab 71 75 72
221 Kaiyuree Moodley 77 72 72
223 Kiera Floyd 71 79 73; Symone Henriques 76 74 73
228 Jordan Rothman 82 72 74
234 Kera Healey 79 83 72; Annalie Swanepoel 83 74 77
238 Megan Streicher 76 87 75
239 Crystal Beukes 85 81 73; Shani Brynard 79 79 81
Silver Division Results (top 5)
271 Anita Chen 91 94 86
273 Jemma Louw 97 92 84
276 Kesha Louw 92 100 84; Nelia Swanepoel 94 94 88
280 Lee-Ann van der Merwe 92 99 89
Bronze Division Result (top 3)
60 Kim Albertus 26 34
55 Tamsen Skippers 26 29
52 Isabella Williams 26 26; Leaaqa Aziz 24 28
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA.
CAPE TOWN, 24 March 2019 – Ekurhuleni duo Caitlyn Macnab and Jayden Schaper will spearhead the challenge in two prestigious Nomads national championships on Monday, while Southern Cape’s Dylan Melville will lead the field in the fourth Gowrie SA Under-15 Challenge.
NOMADS SA GIRLS ROSE BOWL
Macnab will lead the championship division into battle at the 54-hole Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl Championship at Langebaan Golf and Sports Club from 25-27 March.
South Africa’s top ranked junior Caitlyn Macnab will spearhead the challenge in the A-Division of the Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl Championship at Langebaan Golf and Sports Club from 25-27 March.
The current number one junior in the WGSA Open Amateur rankings – a two-time winner on the Open Amateur circuit this season – recently led the South African Girls team to a successful title defence in the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge. She posted an impressive 20-under-par 272 total to win the Individual Girls Competition.
The championship division has drawn a field of 32 competitors and 17-year-old Macnab will have to fend off some tough competition if she hopes to reach the winner’s circle.
In-form Kaylah Williams from Western Province moved to number one in the WGSA Open Amateur rankings after sharing first Samantha Whateley in the recent KwaZulu-Natal Championship, while Gauteng junior Kaiyuree Moodley’s big match temperament was on display in the Annika Invitational USA at the start of the season. Moodley backed up a play-off loss in Florida with three top five finishes on home soil.
Reigning Sanlam SA Amateur champion Jordan Rothman from Western Province defeated an international field to lift the South African Junior International title a fortnight ago.
Ekurhuleni junior Kiera Floyd made a strong case for success with a third place finish in the Jabra Women’s Classic on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, while Glenvista’s Symone Henriques is another title contender after a top seven finish at Glendower Golf Club last Friday.
NOMADS SA BOYS U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP
Schaper will be gunning for an unprecedented double in the Nomads SA Boys U-19 Championship at Humewood Golf Club from 25-27 March. The reigning SA Stroke Play champion became the first junior to win all four SA Boys titles when he completed the ‘grand slam’ with a Nomads SA Boys Under-19 double in 2017.
Former champion Jayden Schaper will lead the field in the 2019 Nomads SA Boys Stroke Play Championship at Humewood Golf Club from 25-27 March.
After the first two rounds the 72-hole stroke play qualifier, the field over 100 players will be cut to the leading 65 players and ties that will contest the final two rounds for a top 32 spot to advance to the match play stage from 28-30 March.
Schaper could come under pressure from Casey Jarvis, Sam Simpson and Southern Cape duo Christo Lamprecht and Martin Vorster, who recently combined for South Africa’s 23rd successive win in the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge in Botswana.
Jarvis, who won the Nomads SA Boys U-15 and U-17 titles last year, is looking to match Schaper with his own grand slam of SA Boys titles, and made a threatening start to the season with a runner-up finish in the Gauteng North Open and victory on the IGT Challenge Tour.
Simpson has arrived with hot form after winning the Boys Competition at Phakalane Golf Club by nine strokes on a winning score of 23-under-par 265.
Southern Cape pair Jordan Duminy and Ben van Wyk have also enjoyed a great run form lately. Louis Oosthuizen Junior Golf Academy’s Duminy backed up a runner-up finish in the SA Amateur with a top 10 in the Sanlam Cape Province Open and back-to-back wins the Riversdale Open. Duminy made the trip to Humewood after edging out Van Wyk and Vorster for third in the Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series South Final at Kingswood Golf Estate on Sunday.
Van Wyk, who tied for 11th in the SA Stroke Play, was joint 12th in the Sanlam Cape Province Open. The Fancourt junior fired a 10-under loop featuring two eagles and six birdies during the second round and could be the dark horse to watch if he gets the putter going in Port Elizabeth.
GOWRIE SA U-15 CHALLENGE
The Gowrie SA Under-15 Challenge has proven itself as successful launch pad for the country’s top junior talents like Jarvis and two-time winner Amilkar Bhana, who claimed his third SA Boys title at the Nomads SA Boys Under-15 Championship in January.
No less than six out of the top 12 players in the GolfRSA Under-15 rankings will line up in the 53-strong player field, including 14-year-old Mellville – at sixth, the highest ranked player in field – underlined his rising star status with a top three finish in the SA Boys U-15 at Killarney Country Club.
Stefano Marchetti and last year’s Sun City Under-15 Challenge runner-up Luc Gavagnin, as well as the 2018 Nomads SA Boys U-13 champion Dujuan Snyman are also expected to make a play for the title.
PHOTOS: Credit GolfRSA.
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA.
CAPE TOWN, 10 March 2019 – Kaiyuree Moodley from Gauteng and Ekurhuleni pair Caitlyn Macnab and new cap Kiera Floyd will target a third successive victory for South Africa in the prestigious All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge in next week.
PHOTO – Top ranked trio Caitlyn Macnab and Kiera Floyd from Ekurhuleni and Gauteng junior Kaiyuree Moodley with WGSA President Sally Greasley on their way to Botswana for the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge at Phakalane Golf Club from 12-15 March; credit GolfRSA
The top ranked GolfRSA Elite Squad trio travelled to Botswana on Sunday and will challenge the other African nations in the Girls Competition in a bid to secure a spot in the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup supported by JAL in Japan later this year.
GolfRSA National Squad members Martin Vorster, Christo Lamprecht and Casey Jarvis, as well as Sam Simpson also made the trip to Botswana, where the quartet will strive to chase down South Africa’s 21st consecutive victory in the event at Phakalane Golf Club from 12-15 March.
“The All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge long served as the Africa Qualifier for Japan for the boys, but the Girls Competition was only introduced two years ago,” explained Womens Golf South Africa President Sally Greasley.
“The chance to compete against the cream of junior golf in Japan is a wonderful opportunity and our previous teams have benefitted hugely from the experience in the past two years.
“Our junior girls have done us proud over the last two years with back-to-back victories. In 2017, Kajal Mistry, Symone Henriques and Kaleigh Telfer represented us for the first time at Royal Harare Golf Club in Zimbabwe.
“Last year, Kajal and Symone returned for duty alongside Caitlyn, who made her national debut at the Royal Dar Es Salam Golf Course in Rabat, Morocco. The teams won comprehensively on both occasions and we are confident that we have selected another strong team this year.
“Kaiyuree gained fantastic experience abroad during her Youth Olympics debut in Argentina, while Caitlyn performed exceptionally well in the Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship and the Espirito Santo Trophy at the World Amateur Team Championship in Ireland last year.
“Both players did well at the Annika Invitational USA early this year, with Kaiyuree losing in a play-off and Caitlyn rallying after a disappointing start with a final round 70 to share the low round honours on the final day.
“Caitlyn has risen to the number one spot in the Open and Junior Rankings this season, with Kaiyuree second in the Junior Rankings and fourth in the Senior standings and they are certainly deserving of their spots on the team.”
Fourteen-year old Floyd, who finished fourth in the Girls B-Division Himbara World Junior Golf Championships, presented by Ciputra, in Indonesia last year, will wear the green and gold for the first time in Botswana.
“Kiera is one of our most exciting young prospects, and we are excited to see how she handles herself in Botswana,” Greasley said. “Since her international debut in Jakarta, Kiera has gone from strength to strength and enjoyed a rapid rise in the rankings.
“She broke into the top five in the Junior Rankings with her Gauteng North Junior Girls Championship win earlier this month and she moved to sixth in the Open Amateur standings following victory in the Mpumalanga Championship late last year and a top five finish in the Eastern Province / Border Stroke Play in January. In addition to their positions in the rankings, Caitlyn also tops our Performance Rankings and Kiera is lying second.
“We are extremely excited at the depth and experience of our three selected players. They have all earned their spots with consistently strong performances and excellent results in the past 12 months and we are confident in their ability to compete at the highest level in Botswana.”
Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA.
BENONI, 8 March 2019 - Caitlyn “Cat” Macnab thrives on challenge. That is evidenced in every swing this petite rising star makes in pursuit of the perfect strike. And in the way she casts her rod in the sea and plays a cob until she guides it safely to shore.
PHOTO – GolfRSA Elite Squad member Caitlyn Macnab from Ekurhuleni rose to number one in the Open Amateur and Junior Rankings inside the first two months of the 2019 season; credit GolfRSA.
“I guess if it wasn’t golf, I’d become a professional angler,” says the Benoni junior.
“I tried ballet once, didn’t like it because I couldn’t point my toes. I like shopping, hanging out with friends, going to movies. My family do a lot of water sports and I like wake-boarding and slalom ski. I’ve got a passion for cars, shoes, music and watches. And I love fishing.
“It’s relaxing, quiet, and peaceful. It’s completely different to what I do on the golf course. It just eases my mind. Golf and fishing are similar, because they are solitary sports that require a lot of patience. Both demand perfection. The difference is that I intend to make a living with golf and I fish for fun. It’s a great balance for me.”
On Sunday, the 17-year-old shot to the top the Womens Golf South Africa Open Amateur rankings with a three-shot victory in the North West Open – just a few weeks after she rose to number one in the Junior Rankings.
“That’s two big boxes ticked on my bucket list for 2019,” said Macnab. “I worked really hard for this and to hold the number one spot on both rankings is incredibly satisfying. But there are a lot more I still want to achieve this year.”
Macnab announced herself in 2017 with eight top three finishes last year before she broke the winner’s tape in the Ekurhuleni Women’s Open.
Two months later Macnab, who packs a huge drive and a lethal short game, beat club champions from all over South Africa to lift the GolfRSA Champion of Champions title at Glendower – a feat she would repeat last year.
The GolfRSA Elite Squad member carried her winning form in to the 2018 season.
She helped South Africa claim its second victory in the All-Africa Junior Challenge in her national debut and made her first appearance in the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan.
She was the low scorer for South Africa in the Espirito Santo Trophy at the World Amateur Team Championship in Ireland, boosting the team to a joint 15th place finish, and tying 12th overall in the Individual Standings.
Pretty impressive, considering 162 golfers from 54 nations teed it up at Carton House.
She placed third in a world-class field in the qualifying round of the prestigious Girls British Amateur Open Championship in September.
Back home, she guided Ekurhuleni to their first-ever victory in the SA Women’s Inter-Provincial and finished the season in the top three on both rankings.
Her 2019 season started with a bang. First in the season-opening Eastern Province / Border Stroke Play, followed by the winning performance at Magalies Park last weekend.
Macnab might fantasize about landing the big one like all fishermen, but her goals in golf are clearly defined. “I’m going to have a career in golf and my goals are set in stone,” she says.
“My goals for the next two years are to cement the number one spot in the rankings and represent South Africa abroad. Then I want to play collegiate golf, turn professional and play the LPGA Tour. I want to win at least one Major and I want represent South Africa at the Olympic Games.
“I also want to go shark cage diving, bungee jumping and sky diving. And I recently read that a European golf instructor Steve Waltman invented a golf club that also doubles as a fishing rod. That’s going on my bucket list, too.
“With a lot of hard work and dedication you can be good at anything you set your mind to. But you also have to be good at laughing and having fun. It’s all about the balance.”
PRETORIA, 13 February 2019 – Extraordinary talent is not the only thing that sets champions apart from the rest of the competition. It is the ability to follow a plan with discipline and sticking to it with tenacious commitment and perseverance.
GolfRSA Elite Squad member Kiera Floyd; credit Tyrone Winfield.
These are the attributes that set 14-year-old Kiera Floyd from Benoni on a winning path seven months ago and the trophies on the GolfRSA amateur circuit continue to stack up.
Floyd announced herself last year when she beat the boys with a seven-under-par 65 at the tough East Course to become the first girl to win on the Bridge Fund Managers Junior Series at Royal Kensington and Johannesburg Golf Club.
Following fifth place finishes in the Sanlam SA Women’s Stroke Play and the WGSA Women’s 72-Hole Championship, the Ebotse teenager broke through on the Open Amateur circuit in the Gauteng North Women’s Open.
A second victory in the Mpumalanga Open rocketed Floyd to sixth in the rankings.
She signed off in 2018 with a two-shot victory in the KwaZulu-Natal Junior Championship and – last Sunday – she rose to fourth in the Junior Rankings with a one-shot victory in the Gauteng North Junior Girls Championship.
Floyd carded rounds of 71 and 70 to fend off challenges from South Africa’s number two ranked Caitlyn Macnab and Youth Olympian Kaiyuree Moodley, among others.
The success at Woodhill Country Club was a direct result of the GolfRSA Elite Squad Camp at Bryanston Country Club just before the tournament.
“I drive the ball on average 280 yards, but it doesn’t always go where I am aiming. At the camp we had a session on Trackman and the coaches accessed our swings. Anna Becker-Frankel, our assistant national coach, identified a problem on my downswing.
“She told me to hit the driver like I would hit a forehand top-spin shot in tennis. I tried it and the ball started going exactly where I was aiming. It felt so amazing to have that kind of control. I was able to stick with the drill during the tournament and I missed very few fairways.”
Learning, improving, building camaraderie and having some fun during the GolfRSA Elite Squad Camp at Bryanston Country Club. From left to right: Coach Costanza Trussoni, Kiera Floyd and Caitlyn Macnab from Ekurhuleni, Zethu Myeki and Kaiyuree Moodley from Gauteng and Western Province pair Kaylah Williams and Jordan Rothman; credit GolfRSA.
The GolfRSA Elite Squad and B-Squad members attended a series of sessions over the three days of the camp that included diet and nutrition with Marlene Durandt, physical fitness with Sandra Winter and mental strengthening – individual interviews and group work in the classroom and on the range – with renowned sport psychologist Maretha Claassen.
“The rest of the time we had sessions with our national coach Val Holland, Anna and with Costanza Trussoni, who put us through our paces on Trackman. We did drills with a big focus on chipping and putting, and range work that included video assessments and work with wedges and shorter irons.
“I definitely learned a lot and I especially used what Maretha taught us about finishing every shot with a positive thought at the Gauteng North Girls. No matter how well or bad it’s going, you must always find something positive to take to your next shot.
“After I dropped a shot at 15 in the first round, I focussed on the good approach shot into the green, rather than the missed putt. I stayed positive and I hit the 17th green in two and holed a six metre putt for eagle.
“I had nine pars to start in the second round before my first birdie at 10, but I dropped at 11. Again, I focussed on how well I was driving the ball. I made two more birdies at 14 and 15 to take the lead. I kept the momentum going with solid pars for the win.”
Floyd is fast becoming a force on the South African amateur stage and early success this year has inspired her to chase big goals this season.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a junior event at home or a national championship. I love golf and I want to succeed. Everything we did at the camp was designed to take us to the next level. So I will do the work. I will be disciplined. I want to keep on winning.”