Krüger stuns big names in Sanlam SA Amateur qualifying
Pretoria golfer Magda Krüger surprised the biggest names in South African women’s amateur golf when she led Sunday’s 36-hole qualifying round for the Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship at Benoni Country Club.
Krüger posted rounds of 73 and 69 to finish at two under par and one stroke clear of second-placed Bertine Strauss and Bonita Bredenhann.
Strauss was one of the few big names near the top of the leaderboard with her rounds of 72 and 71. Reigning SA Women’s Amateur Stroke Play champion Nobuhle Dlamini struggled with respective rounds of 75 for a total of six over, while South African No 1 Kim Williams posted rounds of 77 and 80 for a total of 12 over par.
Dlamini is one of the favourites to win the match play and claim a rare double in the amateur game. “I do have a bit of pressure on me, but I think I can handle it. Winning the double was one of my goals for the year. I’ve set a good standard up to now and I think I’m on track,” she said after a frustrating day on Sunday.
“I struggled with my long irons, but I’ll have some time to work on it before the match play starts.”
The match play begins on Monday, with Strauss hoping to continue her good form since returning home from college in the United States. She won last week’s Gauteng North Match Play Championship.
“I’ve won everything I’ve wanted to win in South African amateur golf, except the SA Amateur Match Play title. So this would be a big win for me,” she said.
But it was Krüger who set the tone for a format that is bound to throw up several surprises over the next three days.
After her 73 in the morning, she made two eagles on the front nine on her way to a 69 to top the leaderboard.
A year ago, the 16-year-old from Pretoria was unknown in South African women’s amateur golf. She only started the game at 14 after injuring her foot in softball. She played in her first tournament in the SA Amateur in April last year, and is still looking for her first major victory.
SCORES:
142 - Magda Kruger (73, 69)
143 - Bonita Bredenhann (72, 71), Bertine Strauss (72, 71)
147 - Michaela Fletcher (71, 76)
148 - Nicole Loesch (75, 73), Talia Nel (74, 74)
150 - Nobuhle Dlamini (75, 75), Eugenie Clack (75, 75)
152 - Lejan Lewthwaite (77, 75)
153 - Cara Gorlei (80, 73), Kim Daniels (76, 77), Helena Buitendag (73, 80)
154 - Lara Weinstein (78, 76)
155 - Bianca Theron (82, 73), Alana van Greuning (81, 74), Monja Richards (79, 76)
156 - Lora Assad (77, 79), Crystal Cooper (76, 80)
157 - Yushira Budhram (80, 77), Samantha Barber (79, 78), Kim Williams (77, 80)
158 - Marne Clack (81, 77), Ruzanne van der Walt (81, 77), Carrie Park (81, 77)
159 - Woo-Ju Son (82, 77)
160 - Jacqui Akers (83, 77)
161 - Elzanne Kent (82, 79), Chevonne Botha (81, 80), Catherine Lau (80, 81)
162 - Jamie-Lee Daniels (84, 78), Shawnelle de Lange (77, 85)
163 - Mae Cornforth (81, 82), Oname Mhotsha (78, 85)
164 - Nicole Fourie (83, 81), Natasha Carlsson (82, 82), Kelly Erasmus (81, 83)
167 - Marguerite Pienaar (87, 80), Liezl Bezuidenhout (84, 83), Josephine Liang (81, 86), Marike Reyneke (75, 92)
169 - Olivia le Roux (86, 83)
170 - Amanda Ogden (90, 80), Janelize Bessenger (87, 83), Chiara Contomathios (81, 89)
171 - Zayb Kippie (87, 84)
177 - Sonja Olivier (92, 85)
178 - Ellene van Zyl (92, 86)
180 - Lauren Sobotker (95, 85), Kim de Klerk (93, 87)
183 - Sheryl Matthews (100, 83), Nicole Bader (93, 90)
192 - Jade Gray (105, 87)
D.Q. - Michelle Feben (D.Q., D.Q.)
N.R. - Michelle Leigh (N.R.)
