AICHI-PREFECTURE, Japan (16 June 2016) – The South African Boys team moved to third in the 2016 TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup Supported by JAL, but the Girls Team lost a little footing on day three of the prestigious international teams event in Toyota City, Aichi-Prefecture, Japan.

Boys Competition

The United States shot a second-straight 202 to move to 29 under 210 and moved 11 strokes clear of Thailand, while South Africa posted its lowest total for the week – a seven-under-par 206 – to move into sole third at 16 under 623.

Dylan Naidoo from Central Gauteng chewed up the Ishino Course at Chukyo Golf Club to anchor the team with a blistering six-under-par 65. Herman Loubser from Boland returned a 70, Central Gauteng’s Marco Steyn posted a 71 and Dylan Mostert from Ekurhuleni carded a non-counting 73.

“The boys played really well in trying conditions,” said South African Golf Association Golf Integration Manager Eden Thompson. “It rained lightly for most of the round and we had breezy conditions with swirling winds over the first 12 or so holes.

“Dylan M really knuckled down today, but unfortunately he finished with a bogey at the last after his layup on the par five settled into a sand filled divot. He didn’t strike his third shot well enough off the sand and the ball pulled up short in the hazard that fronts the green.

“Marco described his round as Groundhog Day. He offset a bogey at two with a birdie at seven, but it was pars all the way in. He has been hitting the ball great, but just hasn’t been able to buy a putt all week and today was no different.

“A bit of good luck at the last hole finally brought a smile to his face, though. He was in the fairway bunker on 18 and hit his layup shot a little thin. The ball hit the face of the bunker and bounced into the hazard. Having lipped out enough times, the golfing gods finally smiled down on him and his ball hit a rock in the hazard and bounced out back into the fairway. He still had to hit a five iron in for his third, but this was always better than the alternative.”

Loubser played solidly over the first 12 holes. He reeled in birdies at three, five and 10 and was two under with six to play when he reached what the players refer to as the scoring zone.

“Unfortunately he didn't manage to improve on his position and the frustration led to a silly three-putt on 16 from about 15 feet,” Thompson said.

“Dylan N once again put the best score on the board after he started the round with a bogey when his drive down the middle of the fairway came to rest in a divot. From there he hit his second over the green in thick rough and could not up and down.”

The drop seemed to spur the 19-year-old on as he piled on birdies at three and five and boxed a 10-footer for eagle at the par five seventh. Naidoo had a little stumble on 12, but he rallied towards the end and notched a brace of birdies at 15 and 16 for his 65.

The Modderfontein golfer rocketed to the top of the standings in the Boys Individual Competition. He leads at 14 under 199 with a five shot lead on Kousuke Hamamoto from Thailand and American Matthew Wolff.

Girls Competition

The South African Girls team slipped to eighth in the Girls Competition as the United States leapfrogged Japan with the lead at 13 under 419. The USA team posted a third round total of 139 to open up a five stroke lead on the defending champions.

Gauteng’s Ivanna Samu signed for a 74 and Gauteng North’s Danielle du Toit contributed a 76 to combine for 150 to take the team total to eight over 440. Kaleigh Telfer from Gauteng returned a non-counting 78.

“The weather was perfect for golf, overcast and much cooler,” said Womens Golf South Africa national coach Val Holland. “The course was set up tough with good pin positions but the players had to take the slope into consideration with their approach shots to avoid being on the wrong side of the slope.

“There were not many highlights, but Kaleigh made a great recovery from a very wayward drive on the 10th to save par and Danielle nearly holed out for eagle on the 10th. All in all, the players were disappointed with their performance, but look forward to the last round and really want to post some low numbers.”

Samu held on to a spot in the top 10 of the Girls Individual Competition, although the Ruimsig golfer slipped from joint sixth to a tie for ninth. Meanwhile overnight leader Kristen Gillman from the United States stretched her lead to six shots at 10 under 206 over Riri Sadoyama from Japan.

For further information, kindly contact:
Geoff Taylor (SAGA Acting President) – geoff@saga.co.za
Karen Olivant (WGSA President) – president@wgsa.co.za
Eden Thompson (SAGA Golf Integration Manager) Cell: 078 574 0652; email eden@saga.co.za

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the South African Golf Association and Womens Golf South Africa.