CAPE TOWN (18 May 2015) – Central Gauteng got their title defence in the Challenge Cup Teams Tournament underway with a solid opening round performance, while Gauteng North launched a spirited comeback in the Singles to down the South African Universities side (USSA) and Western Province narrowly edged out the SAGA Juniors on day one of the prestigious national team event at Milnerton Golf Club on Monday.

The defending champions lost a game and halved two others in the Foursomes against the Presidents Team, but positive results from Neal Herman, Jason Rossiter, Werner van Wyk, Rupert Kaminski and Ryan Dreyer put the side 7 – 2 ahead.

Sentanio Minnie and Aneurin Gounden reeled in two points for the Presidents Tea, but last year’s final round hero, Basil Wright, defeated Matthew Kiewitz 1-up to secure an 8 – 4 outcome for Central Gauteng.

After the first three games between Gauteng North and USSA ended all-square, Nomads SA Boys U-19 Match Play finalists JP Cooper and Ross Sinclair combined to beat Teaghan Gauche and Jason Smith from TuksSport Golf Academy 1-up.

Gauteng North skipper Jacques van Tonder led the way in the Singles game when he ousted Zabastian de Jager 4 & 2 and Robert Gouws, Ruan Korb and Albert Venter further boosted the team’s tally.

Adriel Poonan gained half a point against USSA’s Ryan Lane and Sinclair boxed a 30-footer at the 18^th to beat Gauche and seal an 8 – 4 victory for Gauteng North.

Meanwhile the match between the host union and the South African Golf Association Juniors went right down to the wire.

The SAGA Juniors won two Foursomes games and halved another to edge into a 2.5 – 1.5 lead.

Estiaan Conradie claimed the first game 5 & 3 and Matt Saulez followed with a 5 & 4 result that gave the SAGA Juniors a 4.5 – 1.5 lead.

Western Province’s Weyers Janse van Rensburg and Brent Kirstein countered with victories in the second and third games to narrow the gap to one point.

Caylum Boon beat Province’s Keagan Beyers 3 & 1, but Luca Filippi kept the gap at one point when he defeated Luke Mayo 1-up.

Sean Bradley levelled the score when he downed Cameron Moralee 4 & 3 and Carlo O’Reilly knocked out Herman Loubser 4 & 2 to secure a 6.5 – 5.5 win for Province.

FIRST ROUND LOG
(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)
T1 Central Gauteng (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 8.0)
T1 Gauteng North (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 8.0)
3 Western Province (1, 1, 0, 0, 2, 6.5)
4 SAGA Juniors (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 5.5)
T5 USSA (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 4.0)
T5 Presidents Team (1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 4.0)

PHOTO – Ross Sinclair from Gauteng North in action during the 2015 Challenge Cup Teams Tournament; credit SAGA.