GAUTENG North’s Carrie Park won her first Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur title in a thrilling final with Ivanna Samu at the Kloof Country Club on Wednesday.
Park, who in 2014 won the Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur Strokeplay title but had never made it to the matchplay final before this, beat Samu with a birdie on the 23rd hole.
“I am thrilled. I never expected to beat Ivanna on a par five because she hits it so much further than me,” said Park.
Park made it into the final with a five and four victory over Mae Cornforth in the morning, while Samu went through with a four and three win over Kloof’s Brittney-Fay Berger.
It was an incredible final in which both golfers had chances to win. Over the extra holes, Park played some sublime approach shots but could not make the putts, while Samu kept herself in the match with some incredible recoveries and solid putting.
But on the par-five fifth hole, Samu had to play her third from behind a tree and managed to putt it onto the green, and missed her next putt. Park was standing over a 15-footer for birdie and holed the putt.
“Ivanna was playing so well and I just couldn’t make any putts. I couldn’t read lines and didn’t feel comfortable on the greens. But I knew it was a match whoever made a putt was going to win it. I just had to make that putt.
“This means so much to me. I just tried to stay calm out there and keep doing what I can do and not worry about her game.”
Park’s victory comes only a few days after her win in the Gauteng North matchplay.
“After winning the Gauteng North match play last week I didn’t think I had a chance this week. But I put a lot of hard work into this, she added.
Results from the Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur at Kloof Country Club on Wednesday:
Championship Finals: Carrie Park beat Ivanna Samu on the 23rd hole.
Championship three and four play-off: Mae Cornforth beat Brittney-Fay Berger six and four.
Plate finals: Michelle Swanepoel beat Cara Ford one up.
Plate three and four play-off: Pippa Payne lost to Jessica Shurety fout and two.
