Two of the country’s top junior golfers will be flying the flag for South Africa in the 5th Albatross International Junior Golf Championship India, which tees off at the Jaypee Greens Golf Club in Delhi on Wednesday.
South Africa has enjoyed a strong performance in India since the country’s debut in 2010 and Boland’s Bianca Theron and Cara Gorlei from the Western Province are hoping to equal the success of Lara Weinstein and Izel Pieters, who won the team competition that year.
That year Weinstein also won the individual competition and Pieters finished third. Twelve months later, KwaZulu-Natal’s Michaela Fletcher took third in the individual competition.
Gorlei finished second in the individual competition last year, while compatriot Magda Kruger took third and the pair combined for a second place in the team competition.
This season, Gorlei racked up seven top five and 13 top 10 finishes on the junior circuit, as well as three top five and seven top 10s at senior level and a tie 10th at the RB German Junior in Germany.
The 17-year-old from Milnerton Golf Club is keen to finish the season with more success in India.
“I really enjoyed my first trip to India last year and I was happy to finish second, but this year Bianca and I are aiming for the top,” she said. “It would be a great result for South Africa if we could finish the season with two victories in the final international championship and we are going to give it every effort this week.”
Theron ascended to the No 1 spot in the junior rankings last year. The 17-year-old has kept her spot with four top five finishes, including a tie for third at the KeNako World Junior Championship. She also won the Southern Cape Championship and posted nine top five finishes to vault to sixth in the senior standings. Theron also represented South Africa on the international stage, and will be drawing on this experience to bring home to silverware.
“I think any opportunity to compete internationally is invaluable,” said Theron, who represented South African at the Annika Invitational or the Girls British Amateur. “I didn’t perform all that well, but I learned a lot about course management, focus and planning and will use that experience this week.”
Gorlei agreed, saying: “I definitely know what to expect this year in India in terms of the weather conditions, the course and the competition,” she said. “Mentally I am far better prepared for the challenge.”
Western Province juniors Altin van der Merwe and 2013 SA Under-13 champion Tristen Galant are also competing in the championship.
The quartet arrived in India late on Saturday but, due to the closure of the course, were unable to practice on Sunday. Instead, the South Africans were offered the opportunity to visit the exquisite Taj Mahal at Agra Fort with two other international teams competing in the event.
Womens Golf South Africa vice-president, Karen Olivant, who has accompanied the players to India, said the players thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“Of course we are here to compete, but we always encourage our players to learn a little about the local culture and to forge friendships at all our international events,” she said. “The players really enjoyed seeing one of the wonders of the world and we are very appreciative that the organisers of the Albatross International offered us the opportunity. They were also very accommodating in letting us practice on Monday, although the course was officially closed.
“The players loved the course on sight and were all full of praise about the condition and layout. The rough is not too bad and the bunkers are very good. All in all, we are ready to get started.”
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