Macnab bags EP Border champs

Two of South Africa’s most exciting young golfing prospects made an early statement in the battle for supremacy on the women’s amateur circuit in the 2019 season’s curtain-raiser at Humewood Golf Club.

In a thrilling climax to the 50-year celebration of Eastern Province Women’s Golf, Caitlyn Macnab and Jordan Rothman went toe-to-toe for the bragging rights of the Eastern Province Border Stroke Play Championship recently.

Showing extraordinary skill in the easterly wind that howled between 50 and 70km/h through the links on day one, Macnab, 17, set the first-round target at three-over 75.

The Benoni golfer led by two shots from Randpark’s Kajal Mistry and Tara Griebenow from Durbanville, while Rothman was seven shots adrift after an opening 82.

As conditions intensified, Macnab retained the lead with a battling 81, but Rothman, also from Durbanville, closed the gap in the afternoon session.

The 2018 Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur winner fired two birdies down the stretch for a 75 to inch within a shot of Macnab’s 36-hole target at 156.

A double for Macnab at the last for a 73 and bogey from Rothman for a 72 saw the GolfRSA Elite Squad pair tie for the lead on 13-over at the end of regulation play.

“We’re best friends, so it was tough for us to go into a playoff, but we buckled down,” Macnab said.

Victory lifted Macnab to first in the junior rankings and cemented her third spot in the open amateur standings.

It was also a welcome vindication after a frustrating trip to the Annika Invitational USA.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic about this win,” she said.

“This was the first year that the Eastern Province and Border events were combined and we think it was a great idea.

“It was a great tournament with a strong field.”

Final Result (top 10)

229 Caitlyn Macnab 75 81 73 (play-off, 1st hole)

229 Jordan Rothman 82 75 72

234 Kajal Mistry 77 82 75 234 Kaiyuree Moodley 78 79 77

235 Kiera Floyd 78 81 76 236 Tara Griebenow 77 81 78

240 Liezl Smit 82 81 77 243 Demi Flanagan 78 83 82 245 Samantha Whateley 81 88 76

245 Zethu Myeki 81 86 78