Vicki Traut became the first hat-trick winner of the SA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship when she successfully wrapped up her third title at Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate on Friday.

Traut slept on a comfortable cushion after earlier rounds of 80 and 75, leading 2018 champion Liezl Smit by five shots at the start of the final round. Vanessa Smith, the winner in 2014 and 2015, a further four shots adrift.

The Erinvale golfer powered to a three-shot victory with a final round four-over-par 76 to finish the week on 15 over par.

“To be able to win the national championship is incredibly special, and to do it at this Ernie Els signature course is a dream come true,” exclaimed the 40-year-old.

“This course is so beautiful, but it is also one of the most challenging courses I’ve played. It really tested us. It means the world to me to be the first three-time champion. I never in a million years thought I could achieve that, and I am very proud of this record.”

Traut kept a tight hold on the reins going out, but a few dropped shots coming home gave her pursuers a glimmer of hope.

“The back nine is really tough, especially under pressure and playing against some seriously good golfers,” Traut said. “Knowing the hat-trick was on the line, I made a few silly mistakes that cost me on the 13th, 15th and the 17th. But I managed to survive. It was a big relief to tap in for the win on 18 and realise my goal.

“This is a young championship. It only started in 2010, but it has grown exponentially. This year we had more than 90 players and that is down to the great work done by GolfRSA and Womens Golf South Africa. It was also fantastic to see Elegant Fuel come on board as a sponsor. It all bodes incredibly well for the future of the SA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.”

And, yes, Traut will be back next year to gun for four in a row.

RESULTS

 

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION (top 10)

231 Vicki Traut 80 75 76
234 Liezl Smit 80 80 74
246 Vanessa Smith 82 82 82
252 Heather Kruger 85 82 85
253 Sandra Winter 90 80 83; Lynne Behagg 81 87 85
254 Heidi van der Berg 86 85 83
255 Charlene Oosthuizen 87 85 83; Karin Watts 83 87 85; Sonja Bland 81 89 85

B-DIVISION (top 10)

264 Rose Powell 93 87 84
269 Kerry-Ann Murgatroyd 93 88 88; Jenny Du Preez 91 89 89
270 Lizanne Heydenrych 91 89 90
274 Veronica Paddy 92 92 90
275 Isabel Verwey 91 93 91
276 Cara Lyn Treherne 96 86 94
278 Lara Simms 95 90 93
279 Linda Jordaan 100 88 91; Wendy Carruthers 93 90 96

C-DIVISION (top 10)

99 Louise Olivier 34 32 33
93 Nokukhanya Khathi 30 29 34
90 Janine Calcott 28 27 35; Dot van Ryneveld 30 33 27
87 Olga Zorgman 27 29 31
86 Muditambi Ravele 38 21 27
84 Roenel Basson 31 27 26; Janette Maritz 32 31 21
83 Tersia Botha 21 34 28; Ankia van der Merwe 26 28 29; Riana Swart 31 27 25

SENIOR DIVISION (top 10)

253 Lynne Behagg 81 87 85
255 Karin Watts 83 87 85; Sonja Bland 81 89 85
261 Bongiwe Shabalala 87 87 87
264 Rose Powell 93 87 84
269 Janine van der Merwe 94 89 86; Kerry-Ann Murgatroyd 93 88 88
270 Lizanne Heydenrych 91 89 90
273 Elmien van Niekerk 85 97 91
275 Isabel Verwey 91 93 91

 

PHOTOS – credit GolfRSA | Ernest Blignault

1. Celebrating our champions at Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate – Senior winner Lynne Behagg, C-Division winner Louise Olivier, B-Division winner Rose Powell and 2021 SA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship winner Vicki Traut.
2. Vicki Traut from Erinvale became the first hat-trick winner of the 2021 SA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship with a three-stroke victory in the Championship Division at Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate.

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA.

Lali Stander

Media Manager – GolfRSA

TEL: +27 82 990 7150 / EMAIL: lalistander@golfrsa.co.za