Steve keeps complacency at bay
25-footer for victory.
Earlier in the round, 21-yearold Kupcho fought a migraine that resulted in blurry vision, but she battled back to record a five-under-par 67 – fittingly, the lowest round of the championship – to win by four strokes on 10-under 206.
“It’s always a great feeling to win, but to win at Augusta National is an experience like none other,” said the champion. “Just to walk up 18 with as many fans as there were was amazing.
“To hit the first tee shot of the tournament was a great honour. And then to hit the last putt and to win, it’s just amazing. It was quite a day.”
Reigning Asian Games gold medallist Yuka Saso from the Philippines and Japan’s Yuka Yasuda tied for third on two-under 214. STEVE Komphela is enjoying a new lease of life in his tenure as the head of Lamontville Golden Arrows.
Komphela, is in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup and just a few points away from safety, having passed the 30-point tally.
Arrows are in a position where they can challenge for the top 8 now. They have gathered 31 points from 25 games.
Abafana Bes’thende will lock horns with National First Division outfit TS Galaxy in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup. Komphela believes that the job is far from done for Arrows in the league and the knockout competition.
“The big thing is to keep Arrows within their ambitions and objectives. It shouldn’t be about Steve. Steve could come and go. Clinton Larsen did a good job, and he left. Somebody will come again.
“It is about what the team wants to achieve, and where we want to put it. If, at end of the season, we can consolidate a place in the top eight, that will be a good thing, and also continue with our run in the knockout competition and see how far we can go. That will be a good thing,” Komphela said.
He has blooded in a lot of young guns since taking over the coaching reins. “I will also be happy if we keep giving youngsters opportunities and
pictured,
hope. That’s what makes me happy,” he added.
But Komphela feels Arrows are not safe from relegation. They are 11 points above bottom-of-the-table Maritzburg United.
“Mathematically, we still need to do calculations. How many matches left? Five. Five games, gives you how many points?” Komphela asked.
Arrows are seven points clear of Chippa, Free State Stars and Baroka, who are all tied on 24 after 25 games. Chippa, Stars and Baroka are second from bottom, separated only by goal difference.
“So everybody is still in it, but experience has taught that at 33 points you can survive; 40 points you are in the top eight, and with 60 you win the league. You don’t want to say you are safe and start being complacent. We are not safe, we have to try to win every game,” Komphela concluded.