After a postponement due to Covid-19 restrictions in July 2021, the South Coast Regional Ladies Championships were recently played at Umkomaas Golf Club.

Sixty players from across the province competed in four divisions.

The players had to bring their A game as the weather created interesting conditions with four seasons in one day: heavy winds, lighting and thunder, sideways rain, and baking heat. Judging by the scoreboard, many struggled to get to grips with the conditions.

The competition is played in two categories, ‘open’ for those golfers from any clubs, and ‘closed’ for those who are members of clubs within the South Coast region (Amanzimtoti to Port Edward).

Gold and silver division play medal strokeplay over 36 holes whilst those in bronze played 18 holes medal. The copper division, introduced in 2019 to encourage more ladies to play, competed in an 18-hole stableford competition.

Thanks must go to SCR president Leanne Parsons and her incredible committee who put on a superb tournament.

Thanks to Sengati Africa whose generous sponsorship enabled the region to offer gross and nett prizes, across all divisions including juniors and seniors.

Olivia Wood, the youngster from Umhlali Country Club played superb golf, shooting 84 and 77 to take top honours. She was also crowned the juniors champion, beating fellow KZN squad member Kayla Saunders, by one stroke nett.

Yet another Umhlali junior showed their prowess, with Kamaya Moodliar shooting 87 in the morning and a blistering 79 in the afternoon to win top honours in the silver division. The runner-up was Jacqui Porrill of Ladysmith on 174 gross.

Port Shepstone’s Yzelle Greyling shot a six-better-than-handicap 84 gross to bag both the open and closed bronze division titles. Coming off a win in the interclub last month it seems Umkomaas suits Yzelle’s game.

Umkomaas’s Evija McKelvey continued her good form and took the prizes for gross runner-up in the open and closed bronze division.

Local lass Sabiha Hulley shot 80-83 to win the trophy for the South Coast Regional closed gold division. Thanda Zama from Amanzimtoti, won the silver closed division, one shot ahead of Umkomaas’ Natalie Singer. Marietjie Stols of Selborne won the nett prize for the silver division.

Amanzimtoti’s Sue Daniels’s 37 points saw her take both the seniors and copper division trophy by one shot over Gill Young from Selborne.

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