Article by Lali Stander | Photos by Ernest Blignault
While Casey Jarvis headed into the defence of his title, in hot form, after lifting the African Amateur Championship, there was a little more pressure on fellow 2020 champion, Caitlyn Macnab at the SA Amateur Championships, which was held at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club from 14-19 February.
A year ago, Macnab and Casey Jarvis made history for Ekurhuleni when the pair both achieved the ‘double’ in the two men’s and women’s flagship events.
Jarvis followed a nine-shot SA Stroke Play Championship triumph at Randpark Golf Club with a seven and six victory in the SA Amateur at Royal, and Macnab was equally unflappable over the six days of action on the challenging East and West Courses at Royal.
The GolfRSA number one, who recently celebrated her 18th birthday with a two-shot victory in the SA Women’s Stroke Play Championship and closed out the SA Women’s Match Play title a few days later with a fourth and third result in her 36-hole match play final.
Macnab was bidding to become the second golfer to bag back-to-back victories in the history of these prestigious women’s events. Only Ashleigh Buhai (nee Simon) had previously pulled off this incredible feat, with her double win at Pretoria Country Club in 2006 and George Golf Club a year later.
“It is definitely my goal for 2021 and I’ve worked hard to get ready for it,” said a confident Macnab, who is happy to put a tough 2020 behind her.
Shortly after the SA Amateur Championships, the country went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Golf re-opened in June, but the Serengeti golfer was behind the books. “It was my matric year so golf had to take a back seat,” said Macnab, who only made one competitive appearance, in the Ekurhuleni Women’s Open, where she duly lived up her number one billing by taking the Open, Closed and Junior titles at Glendower Golf Club.
“I passed well and secured a golf scholarship for Texas Christian University, so now it’s just golf, golf, golf! I worked really hard on my game right through my holidays and I feel as ready as I can be.”
The Women’s Golf South Africa Elite Squad member knows she will need her A-Game to stave off the other title contenders.
“The first hurdle the needed to be crossed was the Stroke Play and there was a long line of players gunning for the title, starting with Larissa du Preez. She was second in the Stroke Play last year and is confident, after coming off a win in the Eastern Province and Border Championship.
“Kaylah Williams led the second round and she finished third overall last year and Kyra van Kan tied for third in the stroke play and made it all the way to the match-play final. She was only 14 at the time, and has gained a lot more experience in the past year.”
Macnab was also wary of Jordan Rothman and Megan Streicher. Rothman won the match play at Umhlali in 2018 and having completed high school, will also have come to the former Joburg Open host venue, well prepared.
Streicher produced strong performances in the 2019 edition at Woodhill, finishing sixth in the stroke play and reaching the semi-finals in the match play. “Last year I played Royal Johannesburg for the first time and I found the courses very challenging,” said the 18-year-old Swellendam golfer, who recently replaced Macnab in the top spot of the GolfRSA Junior Rankings.
“I tied for 10th in the stroke play and got knocked out in the first round of the match play. I believe I will do a lot better this year. I have matured and I have gained a lot more experience.
Other players on her watch list included up-and-coming squad members Kiera Floyd, Sam Whateley and Kera Healey, Gauteng trio Kim Turgut, Stephanie Barbaglia and Marine Legentil and local favourites Nadia van der Westhuizen and Kaylan Boshoff.
While the A-Division traditionally always draws a very strong field, the SA Women’s Stroke Play offered a unique opportunity through its B-Division for the younger generation to gain experience by competing at the highest level.
This year’s 83-strong field included nine youngsters between the ages of 10 and 13, including 12-year-old Phenyo Sebata, who won the Ladies Club Championship at Zwartkop Country Club last year.
The championship has drawn a healthy number of mid-amateurs and seniors.
Meanwhile, Jarvis started his week contending for the top spot in the 36-hole stroke play qualifier for the match play stage.
Last year Sam Simpson beat Jarvis by three shots to lift the Proudfoot Trophy, denying the Boksburg golfer the chance to become the second golfer after Louis de Jager in 2007 to win the SA Stroke Play, SA Amateur and the Proudfoot Trophy in one calendar year.
