Full marks for Serengeti’s young Macnab
‘It was really special to win my own provincial open and to celebrate my first big win with all my family, coach and friends’
GolfRSA Elite Squad player, Caitlyn Macnab (15) of Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate cashed in on her first provincial victory in impressive style when she banked a hat-trick of titles in the recent Ekurhuleni Open.
Since losing the Curro SA Juniors International in March in a play-off to number one ranked Woo-Ju Son, Macnab has been in threatening form.
Second in the Free State Championship in May and the Southern Cape Women’s Open in August, the petite Benoni golfer also racked up a handful of third place finishes, including the Northern Cape Championship earlier this month.
On September 10 it finally came together for Macnab at Lake Club Benoni.
Having won the Champions of Champions at the same layout in August, she reeled in six birdies on the back nine and cancelled a double-bogey at the first with an eagle at the par four 12th. She set the first round target at six-under-par 66 and headed into the second round with a five-shot cushion over South Africa’s top senior Kajal Mistry from Gauteng.
Fellow Ekurhuleni junior, Kiera Floyd, blistered the course in 65 strokes in round two but a 71 kept Macnab in pole position.
The 12-year-old Floyd kept up the pressure in the final round but Macnab birdied the 17th hole to close with a 74 that was good enough to seal a one-stroke victory over her stable-mate from Grant Veenstra Golf Academy.
“Kiera opened with a 76 but she was on fire in round two and she chased me all the way to the final putt,” said Macnab. “It was great because she kept me focussed.”
Victory on five under 211 not only earned Macnab the open trophy but she also collected silverware in the Junior A and closed divisions.
“It feels really great to finally get through the door,” said Macnab. “It feels like I’ve been knocking for ages but I trusted that if I stayed patient, my reward would come.
“It was really special to win my own provincial open and to celebrate my first big win with my family, coach and friends.”
Macnab rose to fourth in the junior rankings and sixth in the senior standings, courtesy of her win.
“For now, my first goal is to break into the top three and the second is to achieve national colours. Hopefully, this first win is just the start.”
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