Central Gauteng on Thursday were all but celebrating the South African Interprovincial men’s golf tournament title after their fourth straight win with one match to play at the Benoni Country Club.
After comfortably defeating current champions Western Province 7-5, the team from Johannesburg now face a showdown with Kwazulu-Natal on Friday, who with three wins, have a theoretical chance of pipping the Gautengers to the title.
Kwazulu-Natal beat Eastern Province 7,5 – 4,5 for their third win to keep them in contention. However, the team from KZN will have a mountain to climb as they trail Gauteng by seven overall match points in the competition thus far and will have to beat their opponents 10-2 to lay claim to the championship.
If the men from the coast play less than exceptional golf and win by 9,5 to 2,5 they will draw level on match points and with both teams sharing four wins apiece, they will share the title.
But all the maths and statistics is not worrying Gauteng manager Andy Ostle.
”They [KZN] will have to play very well to beat us by that margin. I think we’re almost there.”
Ostle’s confidence has been well justified by the way his team have played through the week. Gauteng’s strongpoint has been their dominance in the morning foursomes and it again showed against the Capetonians. They comfortably won 3-1 and then faltered slightly in the singles, eventually levelling 4-4. But it was enough for the win and Ostle was delighted. ”It’s been absolutely fantastic and to
beat Western Province is fantastic.”
Ostle also had special praise for South African strokeplay champion, 21-year-old Josh Cunliffe. ”Josh has been playing incredible golf and is yet to be beaten,” said Ostle.
Western Province have had a dismal tournament so far and along with Eastern Province and Boland have only registered one win. The champions face Boland on Friday and a loss could see them relegated to the B-section. ”We have no option but to win tomorrow [Friday],” said team manager Basil Weaver, ”There is nowhere to hide now.”
Fellow strugglers Boland went down to Gauteng North 8-4. – Sapa