Border stars shine on fairways
BORDER golfers Demi Flanagan and Zethu Myeki starred at the KwaZuluNatal Golf Championship earlier this week after putting in some sterling performances.
Flanagan was in top form to win the KZN MatchPlay Champs after an exciting sudden-death battle with BrittneyFay Berger on Tuesday afternoon.
In the KZN Strokeplay Champs which ended on Sunday, Myeki wrote her name in the history books by breaking the course record in her second round, which saw her finish as runner-up.
In the matchplay champs Flanagan and Berger finished level after 18 wholes of play, with Flanagan having to then dig deep to take the win on the 23rd hole.
“It was an exhilarating match,” said Flanagan.
“I was one down playing the 18th, but managed to win the hole to tie it up.
“So we then went to sudden-death and we halved the first four holes before I finally got the win on the fifth hole.”
Flanagan has been in good form this season, and finished seventh in the KZN strokeplay event.
She finished runner-up to Myeki in the Border closed matchplay champs in East London last month and managed to capitalise this time around after Myeki fell to Berger in the semifinals on the 19th hole.
“This is my first win of the year and I am glad I managed to get it early because it is a nice confidence boost going forward.
“The competition was very tough. There were some very good golfers playing so I had to be at my best.
“It was quite hot and humid, but it was nice to play in those conditions.”
Myeki’s runner-up finish at the KZN champs was her third in a row this year, the other two tournaments being the Border and Eastern Province strokeplay champs.
However, the highlight for her will have been her final round 64 which broke the course record and helped her rise from seventh place, after carding a 75 in the first round, up to second where she just missed out on top spot by one stroke to Chiara Contomathios.
“When I heard that the course record was 66 and I had hit a 64 it was an amazing feeling,” said Myeki.
“I was keeping score in the final round and was four-under after eight holes, but then slipped up at the ninth to go three-under, so I decided to just get out of my head and then played the back nine without keeping score and ended up with the record.”
The result was also Myeki’s fourth second place finish in her last five tournaments dating back to November last year and, despite just missing out each time, she should be happy with her consistent solid form.
“I am happy with my form at the moment. I just want to keep doing well and I know that the win will come sooner than later,” said Myeki.
Both girls arrived back in East London yesterday and Myeki will now be heading off to Cape Town on Saturday to take part in the Western Province Amateur strokeplay and matchplay championships at Rondebosch Golf Club from Sunday until Tuesday.