Mossel Bay should prepare itself for an influx of some of South Africa’s greatest young women golfers.
This is the message from Rita Herholdt, president of the Southern Cape Women’s Golf Association (SCWGA).
She said that Women’s Golf South Africa’s 72-hole Team Championships will take place at the Mossel Bay Golf Club from the 26th to the 28th of May this year. Sunday the 25th of May has been set aside for official practice rounds.
The SCWGA is the host province for this year’s event - an amateur tournament that’s played in the format of 72-hole Stroke Play. The two best gross scores will count for each three-player provincial team.
“This tournament has a proud history that goes back to the 80s, and it now boasts two divisions of 12 teams each,” said Ms. Herholdt. “So members of the public will have a chance to see 72 of the top women players in action.”
Amongst the possible participants will be Gauteng’s Magda Kruger (ranked number 1 on the WGA Senior’s list), Carrie Park (number 2), Lara Weinstein (3), and Kaleigh Telfer (8); the Western Province’s Ji Sun Kang (4) and Cara Gorlei (7); Mpumalanga’s Monja Richards (5); KwaZulu-Natal’s Michaela Fletcher (6); Boland’s Bianca Theron (9); and the North West Province’s Mae Cornforth (10) - will all take part.
A-division sides will play for the Swiss Team Trophy, while the B-division will play for the Challenge Trophy.
Ms. Herholdt said that the Southern Cape has won the Swiss Team Trophy on three previous occasions: when the tournament was played at Mossel Bay Golf Club in 2004, in Port Elizabeth in 2006, and in Polokwane in 2007.
“It’ll be great if we can win it again, and obviously it’ll help to have the support of our home crowd.”
Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm welcomed the announcement of the tournament.
“It’s always good news when prestigious events like the Women’s Team Championships come to Mossel Bay because they provide wonderful opportunities for us to showcase the best that we have to offer – and as far as golf is concerned, we certainly do have world-class facilities.
“The Mossel Bay Golf Club is known as ‘The friendly club,’ and also as the club where you can see the sea from every tee – so the atmosphere and the setting will be a perfect foil for the talent of the players.
“This is going to be a rare occasion to see South Africa’s best young talent in action, and we’re hoping for an excellent turnout from spectators,” she said.
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming the WGSA to Mossel Bay.”
