Gauteng teenager Woo Ju Son bolstered her number one spot in the Golf RSA Womens Golf South Africa Junior Rankings with back-to-back victories in the first two weeks of the season.
Son captured a four stroke victory in the season-opening Boland Junior Championship at Robertson Golf Club in week one and sealed the double celebration with a champion’s performance in her title defence at the Nomads Western Province Junior Championship this past weekend.
It was almost a case of déjà vu for Son, who replicated her winning march at Durbanville Country Club last year with another wire-to-wire exhibition at Kuils River Golf Club to seal a two shot victory on 15 over 231.
The petite 15-year-old from Country Club Johannesburg braved very windy conditions to open with a two-over-par 74 to take control of the championship and added another 74 to keep pole position. Although she signed off with a battling final round 83, her patience in the strong wind paid off with another trophy finish.
‘The wind was blowing really hard on Saturday afternoon in the first round and it was even stronger on Sunday in the final round,’ said Son.
‘Luckily I learned a lot from playing in similar conditions in the Nomads Western Province Junior and the Curro SA Junior International last year.
‘The biggest challenge is keeping the ball in play. The course was in fantastic condition and the greens were fast and rolling beautifully. I expected to drop some shots, so I just did my best to stay as patient as possible and took advantage of the holes that played downwind.
‘I must admit, I’m pleased as punch because the Nomads Western Province Junior was my first provincial breakthrough last year and I really wanted to defend my title. It was also a really special to have Sally Little watch us in action in the final round. She is such an icon of women’s golf in South Africa and we all aspire to follow in her footsteps one day.’
Fellow Gauteng golfers Chiara Contomathios and Kaiyuree Moodley tied for second on 17 over, while Danielle Bekker from Chapman Golf Club finished a further stroke adrift in fourth place.
‘Thanks to generous sponsorship of Nomads Western Province, we were able once again to host this championship for our local and visiting players to give them the opportunity to gain valuable experience at championship level,’ said Womens Golf Western Province president Sarah Braude.
‘We were treated to some exceptional shot-making in testing conditions and it was wonderful to see how the players rose to the challenge. It was also a real treat for the juniors to meet two-time Major champion Sally Little, who joined us on Sunday and handed out her trophy (Sally Little trophy) and the prizes for the B Division.
‘Western Province Golf also greatly appreciates the support and funding assistance from the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, as well as the Cape Town Sports Council for junior golf in the province. Their support in particular for our Junior Development Programme goes a long way to providing the opportunity for girls to develop their golfing ability whilst in the programme.’
In the picture (left to right): Sally Little, Jordan Rothman (WP Prentice Cup), Chairman Cape Town Sports Council Richard Buckeley, Megan Streicher (Sally Little trophy – winner B Division), Nomads Western Province vice-captain Kieron Ricketts, Woo-Ju Son (Winner Championship Division – Nomads trophy), Mikah Poonawassy (Winner C Division – WGWP Trophy), Xavier Arries (winner D Division), Kaylah Williams (Goldsbury Stewart trophy – WP U-16) and Womens Golf Western Province president Sarah Braude
A-Division Result (top 10)
231 Woo-Ju Son 74 74 83
233 Kaiyuree Moodley 86 73 74; Chiara Contomathios 78 77 78
234 Danielle Bekker ZIM 83 75 76
237 Kiera Floyd 83 77 77
240 Jordan Rothman 85 77 78
241 Symone Henriques 84 79 78
242 Kaylah Williams 82 82 78
246 Aaliyah Abrahams 86 81 79
251 Cara Ford 89 78 84
B-Division Result (top 10)
162 Megan Streicher 82 80
166 Amore Steyn 82 84
171 Hannah Venter 82 89
177 Ashleigh Seboa 87 90
179 Christan Booysen 93 86
183 Cameron Seboa 92 91
188 Kayla Paulsen 94 94
189 Sylken November 97 92
194 Shani Brynard 94 100
198 Isabella Crafford 95 103
C-Division Result
187 Mikah Poonawassy 89 98
194 Kristen Jakobsen 97 97
197 Suheimah Mateus 100 97
207 Danielle Foster 102 105
208 Jemma Louw 106 102; Nikita Bossr 102 106
219 Tyla Humby 114 105
D-Division Result
34 Xavier Arries 34
30 Elzet Mostert 30
29 Jordan India Pillay 29
20 Fouziah Schloss 20
15 Anna Papitsch 15
