Standard Bank Golf Development Programme’s ambassador and Ladies European Tour player, Nobuhle Dlamini, marked her return to South African soil with an assured two-shot victory in the Standard Bank Pro-Am series tournament that was held at Silverlakes Golf Estate on Thursday.
The Eswatini international – exhausted as she was after flying in two days prior and holding a Standard Bank Golf Development Programme talent identification day in Orange Farm – carded a three-under-par 69 in windy conditions in Pretoria, a good enough score to hand Dlamini her maiden title in this seven-tournament series.
“I think I did really well,” she said after her win, “it was tough; very windy today. I thought the golf course was a little bit short and I think that played in my favour a little bit. I’m happy with my game because the weather was tough and I had to play really well. I’m happy with this win.
“It’s been very busy; I think we had a six-tournament stretch on the European Tour and I’m really exhausted. But I am really happy to be back.”
In a star-studded field that boasted talent such as Cassandra Hall, Lejan Lewthwaite, Zethu Myeki, Ivanna Samu, just to mention a few, it was not going to be an easy outing for any player, and with the wind changing direction ever so frequently, Dlamini needed to play some of her best golf to triumph in Pretoria.
There was always pressure. Fresh from her win in the Origins of Golf a week ago, Shawnelle de Lange was looking to make it two wins in two weeks. That intention was clear from the way she played; navigating the Silverlakes layout with caution and skill for a total of one-under-par 71, two shots behind Dlamini.
Coming in in a share of third after an even-par round was the duo of Tandi McCallum and Myeki while Nadia van der Westhuizen and Lindi Coetzee both carded 73s to tie fifth. Catherine Lau, Tara Griebenow and Lewthwaite share the seventh spot after they all signed for 74s. Lenanda van der Watt rounded up the top 10 with a four-over 76.
Three-time winner on this series, Samu, along with Yolanda Duma who was victorious in the event preceding Thursday’s, finished in a six-way share of the 11th spot.
This was the seventh event of this series and the grand final, the Standard Bank Pro-Am Invitational is scheduled to be played at Randpark Golf Club on October 25 and 26.
