AICHI-PREFECTURE, Japan (17 June 2015) – Japan extended their dominance in the Girl Competition, while Norway overtook Japan and Sweden for pole position in the Boys Competition, but the South African teams will have to dig deep after slipping in the second round of the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Aichi-Prefecture on Wednesday.
In the Boys Competition, defending champions Norway vaulted into the lead at 13-under-par 413 with a blistering 202 and they lead by three strokes from Japan at the halfway mark.
South Africa lags 14 strokes off the pace in a tie for eighth on 427 with Mexico after a 217.
Boland’s Herman Loubser carded a 70, Dylan Naidoo from Central Gauteng returned a 71, Gauteng North’s Keegan de Lange added a 76 and Marco Steyn from Central Gauteng signed for a non-counting 77.
“Conditions were overcast with a light rain to cool you down, so nothing to complain about,” said TuksSport Golf Club and Academies head coach Llewellyn van Leeuwen.
“The key to scoring well at the Ishino Course is to get off to a decent start. There are some very testing shots early on, so you have to be switched on from the start because soft mistakes early makes you too desperate later.
“Unfortunately we got off to a poor start once again and, although we fought back fantastically, the guys let it slip towards the easier finishing holes
“Herman got off to a really great start and was one over through the first four tough holes. He could actually have gone really low, but missed chances inside eight feet at seven, 11, 12, 15 and 16.
“He remained extremely patient, though, and made some great putts on the last two holes.
“Dylan overcame a bad start with an eagle at seven and birdies at 15 and 16. This guy might only weigh 60kg, but it is all heart.
“Keegan made some uncharacteristic mistakes and didn’t manage to erase the bogeys, picking up his only birdie at the final hole. It was hard to miss the disappointment in Marco’s eyes after a very spirited fight back.
“Marco was one over with four holes to play, but after four lip outs in five holes, I think he got too aggressive with his tee shot on 15.The leaders were averaging one under at this hole, so signing for a nine after hitting two balls out of bounds was really frustrating for him.
“A 14 shot deficit in this format means very little, especially with two rounds to go, but if we want to challenge for a top five spot, we will have to get off to a fast start on Thursday.”
The Japanese girls’ team stretched a three stroke lead to 14 strokes over Korea after Yumi Matsubara and Hina Arakaki combined for 134 at the Chukyo Golf Club. The defending champions lead on 14-under-par 174.
South Africa has some serious work ahead to catch up to the leaders after finishing at nine under 297 alongside New Zealand. Ivanna Samu carded a 73, while fellow Gauteng juniors Kaleigh Telfer and Natasha Carlsson both registered 78s.
Matsubara from leads the Girls Individual Standings on nine under 135 and is two strokes ahead of compatriot Minami Hiruta. Samu moved into a tie for 10th on three over 147 alongside Elisabeth Codet from France and Korean Heo Hyeonju.
“Ivanna did well to negate one of two bogeys with a birdie at the 10th and she remains upbeat,” said Womens Golf South Africa president, Karen Olivant.
“Kaleigh is struggling with flu. She had a solid first round, but didn’t have a great start today. She was six over after doubles at 17 and 18, but fought back well to complete her back nine in level par.
“Tash said she missed a lot of putts and was a little dismayed after the round. She couldn’t convert for a single birdie to erase the damage of a double bogey and four more drops.
“The girls are real fighters, though, and they will go all out to turn the tide on Thursday.”
BOYS TEAM STANDINGS
413 (-13) Norway 211-202
416 (-10) Japan 206-210
417 (-9) Sweden 206-211
419 (-7) Korea 210-209
420 (-6) Chile 212-208
421 (-5) United States 208-213
424 (-2) Canada 210-214
427 (+1) South Africa 210-217; Mexico 217-210
429 (+3) New Zealand 216-213
432 (+6) China 215-217; Italy 215-217
434 (+8) Scotland 217-217
437 (+11) Brazil 218-219
438 (+12) Zimbabwe 220-218
BOYS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (top 5)
133 (-9) Joaquin Niemann CHL 67-66
135 (-7) Ren Okazaki JAP 67-68
137 (-5) Im Sungjae KOR 69-68
138 (-4) Chandler Phillips USA 68-70; Kristoffer Reitan NOR 70-68
141 (-1) Herman Loubser RSA 71-70; Dylan Naidoo RSA 70-71
145 (+3) Keegan de Lange RSA 69-76
157 (+15) Marco Steyn RSA 80-77
GIRLS TEAM STANDINGS
274 (-14) Japan 140-134
288 (Par) Korea 143-145
290 (+2) United States 147-143
292 (+4) Colombia 146-146; France 146-146
297 (+9) New Zealand 149-148; South Africa 146-151
298 (+10) Mexico 152-146
GIRLS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (top 5)
135 (-9) Yumi Matsubara JAP 68-67
142 (-2) Minami Hiruta JAP 72-70
143 (-1) Hina Arakaki JAP 76-67; Isabella Cardenas COL 72-71
144 (Par) Jo Hyunkyung KOR 71-73
147 (+3) Ivanna Samu RSA 74-73
150 (+6) Kaleigh Telfer RSA 72-78
154 (+10) Natasha Carlsson RSA 76 78
Daily draws and scores available at http://www.wjgtc.org/english/score/index.html
Photo – Keegan de Lange; credit WJGTC