MBOMBELA, 16 September 2019 – Central Gauteng began their title defence in the South African Inter-Provincial Tournament on a positive note, while Free State and Boland made a big stand in the promotion battle at Mbombela Golf Club on Monday.

It took a strong effort to overcome last year’s B-Section winners Western Province, but the Lions got the job done to join Southern Cape and Gauteng North as the early frontrunners on day one of the premier annual team event, sponsored by Tempest Car Hire.

Central Gauteng led the foursomes 2.5 – 1.5, but Western Province’s Cameron Johnston beat fellow mid-amateur Ryan Dreyer in the singles to level the scores. Then Samual Mckenzie, Kian Rose, Steven le Roux and Wendell Bossenger took control back for Central Gauteng and new cap Shaun Jones ensured a 7 – 5 result when he halved against Kyran Hawkins.

“At this level there are no easy matches,” said manager Andy Truluck. “Province got promoted last year and we knew they would come at us hard. All the games were pretty tight, but our guys put their hands and kept fighting. There are still a lot of golf to be played, but we are pleased to have crossed the first hurdle.”

Southern Cape and Ekurhuleni were tied 2-all after the morning session, but Jordan Burnand’s 8 & 7 captain’s innings put Ekurhuleni on the attack.

Jayden Schaper took out Southern Cape number one Martin Vorster 5 & 4 and Brandon Gildenhuys, Ryan van Velzen, Aneurin Gounden and Casey Jarvis further boosted their tally. Halves from Yurav Premlall and Vaughn van Deventer sealed the 8 – 4 win.

The ‘comeback of the day’ honour went to Gauteng North, who rallied from 3.5 – 1.5 down to defeat KwaZulu-Natal 7 – 5.

KwaZulu-Natal was only able to gain a single point from number one Greg McKay’s 3 & 2 win against Werner Deyzel as Armand van Dyk, Andrew Williamson, Jacques van Tonder, Nicholas Souranis, Francois van der Walt and Christiaan Maas piled on the points for the Daisies. Stals Swart clinched the win when he squared his game against Jonothan Broomhead.

Central Gauteng will face KwaZulu-Natal on day two, while Southern Cape clash with Western Province and Gauteng North take on neighbours Ekurhuleni.