PAARL, 30 March 2015 – South Africa’s top ranked Ivanna Samu took the 36-hole lead in the Nomads SA Girl’s Rose Bowl Championship on Monday while Gauteng North’s Catherine Lau broke up a heavy Gauteng presence at the top of the leaderboard at Paarl Golf Club.
Samu opened with a one over 73 and started the second round one stroke behind fellow Gauteng golfer Natasha Carlsson. The reigning Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur champion overcame a double bogey at the second and bogey at the third with three birdies for an even-par 72 and took pole position in the Championship Division at one-over-par 145.
The 17-year-old Ruimsig golfer, who lifted the Gauteng North Junior Girls’ Open Championship title earlier this year, is chasing her third victory this season after also winning the North West Open.
Samu leads by two from fellow Gauteng player, Chiara Contomathios, who returned rounds of 74 and 73.
Lau opened with a 79, but improved eight strokes in the second round and her 71 secured Lau a share of third with Carlsson on six over.
Yet another Gauteng player, Kaleigh Telfer, finished in fifth at seven over with rounds of 75 and 76.
Mercedes Kreissel from Gauteng North carded rounds of 82 and 78 to break into the top 20 and finished the second round in a tie for 17th on 10 over.
PHOTO – Gauteng North’s Catherine Lau; credit Catherine Kotze / SASPA