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Breanne Loucks wins Sanlam South African Women’s Amateur Strokeplay Golf Championship

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20 year old, Welsh golf star, Breanne Loucks, a Curtis Cup team member conquered the Sanlam South African Women’s Amateur Golf Championship with 69 on the final day and 213 for the tournament, six shots ahead of her nearest rival.

Chasing her was Ashleigh Holmes who finished level par today for 219; Monique Smit ended up one over on 73 for 220 and Mercia Pretorius on +2 for 221.

“I love this golf course” Loucks said of Royal Johannesburg & Kensington’s East Course where the championship is being played.

Of course she loves the layout. She holed a 45-foot putt for birdie two on the second hole and then knocked in another huge putt on the 17th to finish with a one-under par 71 coming into the final round yesterday.

Today, nothing was going to stand in her way as she annihilated the front nine coming in with 2- under par after birdies on the 7th and 9th ,both par 4’s.

She went out full of confidence, sticking to her game plan and putting together a sterling back nine until disaster struck at the par 4 - 14th, when she put her ball into the water on the left and dropped a shot.

Breanne chatted to herself on the 15th tee box and regrouped to par the hole. On the 16th par 3, she put her drive left of the pin and putted straight in for birdie.

After an excellent drive on the 17th par 4, she put her approach shot right next to the hole for another tap in birdie and then narrowly missed her third on the 18th to finish at 3-under par.

Loucks is to make her second appearance at the Curtis Cup, a biennial match against at the historic Old Course, St Andrews from 30 May to 1 June 2008.

Having won all her Curtis Cup matches in 2006, the Wrexham player is certainly the most experienced player in the Great Britain Ireland side.

In addition to representing Wales in the Home Internationals in 2007, she represented GB & I in the Vagliano Trophy and Acer Five Nations Commonwealth Tournament played at De Zalze. A win at the 2007 Welsh Ladies (Close) Amateur Championship; a joint fourth finish at the 2008 Portuguese Women’s Open Amateur Championship and she reached the quarter finals of the 20007 ladies British Amateur - giving her an excellent run-up to this years South African event

It’s not been plain sailing for Loucks. She has been suffering with injury but her coach has been instrumental to her comeback. “Everything I have achieved is down to him. We’ve been working on psychology skills and he’s also rebuilt my swing to avoid injury. I had to change my technique as I was injured late last year. I’ve been seeing surgeons and physiotherapists but most of my return was down to him. He’s been extremely supportive.

Ashleigh Holmes who plays out of Plettenberg Bay GC, followed her 77 in the first round with the lowest round 70 yesterday when she had an eagle on the first hole and a double drop on the seventh hole. Today was good solid golf on 72. She maintained her focus to keep the leader in her sights to take runner up place in the Strokeplay Championship.

Southern Cape golfer, Monique Smit (George GC) had an eagle on the par 5, first hole for a 74 yesterday to share second place with Mercia Pretorius (CMR GC). She holed a greenside bunker shot on the first hole par 5 for eagle. Today was more difficult but she managed to keep her composure and had a bit of trouble to finish +4 for the tournament.

Smit, who won the Ernie Els Invitational by 11 shots recently was motivated to do well in the championship to impress national selectors in order to make to South African side, to defend our title in the World Amateur Team Championship in Australia later this year.

Johmari Logtenberg, a 19 year old ex-cricketer wins the SA Women’s Amateur Golf Championship B division, Abe Bailey Trophy on 236 (79,79,78), ten shots ahead of her nearest competitor, Leanke Vlok from Boland (246) and Melanie King of Gauteng (257).

This is Logtenberg’s first foray into competitive amateur golf as she started playing competitively only four months ago. “It’s the first time I’ve broken 80 and then I did it again, and again - I love this game.” she chuckled “I’m still in a dream, I’m sure someone will pinch me and I’ll wake up.”

Johmari, previously the SA vice-captain of cricket, has played for South Africa since she was 14. She decided to take up golf to see “where I could go” because she wants to become a professional sportswoman and cricket couldn’t offer her a sustainable career.

“The course is not easy, the rough was long and I found myself in places that were difficult to manage.” Logtenberg shot a 41 on the first nine. She dropped a shot on the first hole due to final round nerves, but collected herself and came in with a 37.

She got her confidence down the stretch on the 15th hole where she birdied. “I was struggling a bit with my irons but my short game saved me. On the 15th, I took my 4-iron and struck it well, then putted the ball into the back of the cup from 2metre - it felt great!”

Issued on behalf of Women’s Golf SA by Christine Iliadis 0824513395 – iliadis@iafrica.com.
Website: www.womensgolfsa.co.za.

For further information or enquiries

Mrs Paddy Goodwin, Tournament Secretary
Tel: 021 8631052 Fax: 088 0218631052 Cell: 0834097056
womensgolfsa@mweb.co.za.