Early markers laid in SA IPT at San Lameer

Central Gauteng began bid for a record 30th title in the South African Inter-Provincial Tournament with a strong performance on day one, while local heroes KwaZulu-Natal made a big stand in the promotion battle at San Lameer Country Club on Monday.

A-SECTION Central Gauteng came out firing in the foursomes and claimed the first 3 points on offer against neighbours Gauteng North. Taking some nice momentum into the afternoon session, the team racked up a further 5 points – including 2 halves – for an 8 – 4 result. New caps Hannes Strooh (No 8) and Amilkar Bhana (No 6) both enjoyed 6 & 5 on debut, while two more first-timers, Jaden Deltel and Simon du Plooy, both halved their games.

David Opperman was no match for reigning SA Mid-Amateur Stroke Play champion Ryan Dreyer, who on his match 7 & 5 and the side’s No 1 Adam Breen closed out the session with a 3 & 2 win against Werner Deyzel. The Lions will face Western Province on day two. Province edged Southern Cape 6.5 – 5.5 and last year’s B-Section champions North West defeated 2019 winners Ekurhuleni by the same narrow margin. Ekurhuleni tackle Gauteng North, while North West will be looking for back-to-back victories when the side faces Southern Cape on day two.

B-SECTION

KwaZulu-Natal bellowed their intention with a decisive 11 – 1 victory against Border, but Boland and Eastern Province were equally impressive on the opening day. After a clean sweep in the foursomes, KwaZulu-Natal lost their only point to Oswin Schlenkricht, who beat Jason Gilliver 6 & 5. Thabiso Magwaza (No 8) and Nathan Trodd (No 7) won 3 & 2 and 5 & 3 to get the hosts back on track, while Thomas Lovett, Gavin Sole, Dan Bennett, Chris Erasmus and recent KwaZulu-Natal Amateur champion Jonothan Broomhead delivered the rest of the blows to Border.

Eastern Province rode the momentum of a 3 – 1 foursomes lead to a 9 – 3 victory against Free State, with big points coming from the bankers JP van der Watt (5 & 4), Kyle de Beer (5 & 4) and a 6 & 5 stunner from the skipper, Altin van der Merwe. Boland, meanwhile, defeated Mpumalanga 8.5 – 3.5 and the team will be hoping for more of the same when they take on Border on Tuesday. Mpumalanga and Free State have a chance to put some points on the log when they go head-to-head, while Eastern Province will take the fight to the local heroes.

A-SECTION – Round 1 Results

North West 6.5 – Ekurhuleni 5.5

Western Province 6.5 – Southern Cape 5.5 Central

Gauteng 8 – Gauteng North 4

A-SECTION LOG (Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)

1 Central Gauteng (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 8)

T2 Western Province (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 6.5)

T2 North West (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 6.5)

T4 Ekurhuleni (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 5.5)

T4 Southern Cape (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 5.5)

6 Gauteng North (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 4)

B-SECTION – Round 1 Results

KwaZulu-Natal 11 – Border 1

Boland 8.5 – Mpumalanga 3.5

Eastern Province 9 – Free State 3

B-SECTION LOG

(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)

1 KwaZulu-Natal (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 11)

2 Eastern Province (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 9)

3 Boland (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 8.5)

4 Mpumalanga (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 3.5)

5 Free State (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 3)

6 Border (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1)

SCORING LINKS: A-SECTION and B-SECTION  

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