Teen claims her biggest title on her 18th birthday
"I made some mistakes, but the turning point for me was when I made par on 16."
Serengeti golfer Caitlyn Macnab claimed the biggest title in her golfing career, the Aon South African Stroke Play Championship, on her 18th birthday on Tuesday.
The teen signed for a final round of 68 on Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club’s West Course to finish on seven-under-par, winning by two strokes over Silver Lakes’ Larissa du Preez.
GolfRSA’s number one-ranked amateur said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get the win. Turning 18 is quite a big deal and to be able to get the win on my birthday is something really special that I won’t forget for the rest of my life. In a weird way it feels a little bittersweet.
“As golfers we are so quick to get down on ourselves after a bad shot or a bad round, so when you win it’s important to celebrate and try to stay on that high.”
For most of the final round, the tournament was a three-horse race between Macnab, du Preez and overnight leader Kaylah Williams.
“Today was a really great game between Kaylah, Larissa and myself,” she said. “I had to fight really hard. I made some mistakes, but the turning point for me was when I made par on 16.
“It felt like an impossible shot after I short-sided myself against the embankment. The pin was tucked close to the edge, and I only had about 10 feet to play with, but I managed to chip it to within a foot. Then I made a good birdie on 17 and on 18 I had a tap-in birdie after just missing my eagle putt.”
