Lowvelders help drive Mpumalanga success at golf IPTs
Some Lowveld golfers played an important role in both Mpumalanga sides' success this year.
The Mpumalanga Golf Union’s women’s team went unbeaten at this year’s Interprovincial Tournament (IPT), earning promotion to the A division, while the men recorded their best performance in four years to finish fourth at their IPT.
This year’s senior golf IPT season was a major success for not only Mpumalanga, but the Lowveld too. Lucia Mhlabane of Malelane Golf Club was a key part of the women’s team, and the men’s team featured three Lowvelders; Corné Olivier (Mbombela), Thabo Dube and Thami Ngobeni (both of Kambaku Golf Club in Komatipoort).
The men’s IPT was at Stellenbosch Golf Club between September 16 and 20, and Mpumalanga competed in the B division. The team was in desperate need of an improved performance this year, having finished bottom of the log in the past three editions of the IPT.
Olivier and team captain Devon Strydom (Witbank Golf Club) proved pivotal in the team’s success, helping them push on to secure a fourth-place finish. Not only was it Mpumalanga’s best finish in four years, but it was also the first time in four years that they were able to win two matches, beating Free State and Border. Olivier also finished tied 24th on the individual order of merit.
While the men’s team’s performance was impressive in its own right, the Mpumalanga women’s team was undoubtedly the highlight of the senior IPT season for the province. The ladies were virtually untouchable throughout the tournament, only losing five of the 20 singles or foursome matches they played.
Playing at Humewood Golf Club from September 24 to 27, they won all four of their games, beating Limpopo 6-0, Eastern Province 4-2, Border 5-1 and Ekurhuleni 3.5-2.5. Mhlabane was their leading points scorer all week, with seven to her name.
She won all of her singles matches (the only MP player to do so), and won three of the four foursomes matches she played alongside Hanné Rademeyer of Witbank Golf Club.
Mhlabane also recorded the team’s largest margin of victory for the week, thumping Border’s Esther Goosen 9&7 on the third day.
Team captain Bea Breedt (Middelburg Country Club) and Chanté Olivier (Ermelo Golf Club) both earned 6.5 points during the week – each of them won three singles matches, won three foursomes matches and tied one foursome match. Rademeyer scored five points for the team.
The Mpumalanga women’s team’s success means that the union is promoted back up to the A division for the 2025 IPT, having been relegated in 2021.
