Woman in golf
JOBURG – Greater Midrand area resident, Nicole Garcia, found the IGT Tours' Gary Player for Champions Academy Classic at Kyalami Country Club very challenging.
Despite problems off the tee, the reigning Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies champion finished in sixth position.
She described her second round as “one long search for balls, there where they are taping the next season of survivor”.
“I foolishly decided to take a spinning class after the first round,” said Garcia. “I limped around the course and I could barely swing the driver.
“Considering that I only hit two fairways in regulation all day, it wasn’t a bad score, but I swear there must be five million trees on this course and I saw every one of them.
“This is a relatively short course, but it is heavily protected with bunkers and water, so you really have to think your way around this layout. I left a few out there, but when you don’t keep yourself in play, you are always fighting for pars.
“The biggest improvement from my perspective is the fact that they set up the course for us ladies now, and it’s very close to the Sunshine Ladies Tour and Ladies European Tour standard.”
Garcia said the IGT Tour was a great chance to get back into competitive mode. “Because it’s a year-long tour, it’s a huge advantage for us Sunshine Ladies Tour players, the Big Easy guys and the amateurs looking to join the pro ranks.
“It gives us the opportunity to stay competitive, while it gives the young guys the chance to learn.”
Garcia, who is ranked 34th on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit left for Sweden on 29 August to compete in the Helsingborg Open.
Share your sport interests on the Joburg North Local News WhatsApp group. To join the group, just send a WhatsApp message with your name and surname to 079 439 5345.
