Tiffany has a point to prove

EXCITEMENT is building ahead of the SA Women’s Open at San Lameer Country Club from October 16 to 19.

Main sponsor Cell C’s slogan is ‘the power is in your hands’ and for one of the province’s top amateurs, Tiffany Avern-Taplin (26), that will indeed be the case. Especially when she can get them to stop shaking.

She’s thrilled to have secured a spot in the high quality field and admitted to some nerves. “Obviously I am a bit nervous, but also very excited,” she said.

Tiffany, who works as a journalist with the Mid South Coast Mail in Scottburgh, is currently a member at Mount Edgecombe Country Club, but has also been a member at Umhlali Country Club and Southbroom Golf Club.

Along with the Eaton twins, Nicola and Melissa, she will be flying the South Coast flag.

She said the course was in pristine condition, with the greens rolling true, and thanked Meyer du Toit for helping the local girls get in as many practice rounds as possible.

The tournament organisers and fans will be hoping for better weather this year.

In 2012 it was wet and blustery at Selborne Park. Last year it was simply atrocious at Southbroom Golf Club and the event was sadly shortened to one day.

“I got the worst of that weather and did well to shoot 79. It was frustrating as everyone had put in so much work to get ready,” said Tiffany.

This year the weather forecast seems more favourable and the field, which includes many of the Ladies’ European Tour stars, should be in for a treat.

Tiffany is looking forward to competing against the professionals.

“I’ve set a couple of goals, to make the cut, and be the leading amateur,” she said. She is the only amateur from KZN and there are 10 in the field altogether.

She has spent time at San Lameer practising with the twins, and they’ve given her some useful advice.

“I’ve been struggling a bit with my driver, and have spent time on the range. Fortunately San Lameer is more of a ‘target-golf’ type course, so one doesn’t always need to be aggressive off the tee,” she said.

Tiffany is confident she has the game to compete. What she will be working on is her mental approach.

“I have to learn to control my thoughts and if a negative one comes, to distract myself with something random,” she laughed.

Like everyone, she suffers from some first tee jitters. “Honestly, I just want to make contact,” she laughed.

“But seriously, the key is to stay in the moment and don’t let your mind wander.”

She has also spent more time getting everything prepared to avoid any last minute hiccups.

“Last year I found out late the night before that my lob-wedge and sandwedge were non-conforming. Talk about panic. In the end I used Derek James’s wedges,” she said.

Tiffany has an outstanding record as an amateur. She made her debut for KZN at the age of 15, and went on to play for South Africa.

She may not have taken her golf as seriously as some would have liked in recent years, but that seems to be changing.

“I have a point to prove. Watch this space,” she said.