WP pip North-West on dramatic day one at Premier IPT

Western Province earned a dramatic 6.5-5.5 victory over North West on day one of the SA Premier Interprovincial at Stellenbosch Golf Club thanks in part to late fireworks from Cole Cruickshank who snatched the all-important half point. 

In the morning foursomes, youngsters Andries van der Vyfer and Henru Walters handled the pressure that comes with being the lead match superbly. Up from the very first hole, the pair won holes seemingly at will on the opening nine and made the turn 5 holes to the good.

 A loss at 10 was a minor blip on the radar before wins at the 11th and 12th sealed an emphatic win over North West’s Renier Janse van Rensburg and Thapelo Maichotlo.

The rest of the side backed up Van der Vyfer and Walters’ display fantastically: Westlake members Dan Copeman and Shaun Le Roux did well to claw their way back from 2 down with six to play against Jason Ressell and Nicholas Weber, restoring parity with wins at 13 and 16. The pair delivered the decisive blow with a 4 at the 18th to add to the blue hue developing on the board. 

After losing two of their first three holes, Cole Cruickshank and Mitch Phigeland seized control of their contest with Romano Saincic and Michael Wallace with four wins in a 5-hole stretch from the 8th against a loss at 11. 

Further wins at 14 and 15 meant that despite losing the 16th, the pair ultimately secured a 2&1 triumph.

There was no separating the sides over the first seven holes of the anchor match but three losses in a five-hole stretch from the 8th put Captain Andrew Georgiou and Travis Procter behind the proverbial 8-ball against Oliver Goldhill and Janko van der Merwe. 

Though they won 13 with a 2, they could not stave off an eventual 3&2 defeat. 

Province didn’t have it all their own way in the afternoon despite Van Der Vyfer winning his game 3&2 and Walters 5&4 against Maichotlo and Janse van Rensburg respectively.

Losses for Dan Copeman (2&1), Shaun Le Roux (4&3) and Mitch Phigeland (2&1) meant a lot hinged on the final couple of matches.

While playing partner Procter fell to a 2&1 defeat after being 2-up at the turn, Team skipper Andrew Georgiou was dormie 3-up but opponent  van der Merwe sent the game up the last and down to the wire with wins at 16 and 17.

As did Cole Cruickshank playing in the group ahead against Saincic… Staring down the barrel with two to play, Cruickshank produced a brilliant birdie-3 at 17 much to the delight of his teammates watching on.

Off the right of the 18th green in two, Cruickshank put the squeeze on his opponent with a great 3rd shot and an ensuing par.

Saincic took three to get down after finding the green in regulation as Cruickshank earned the valuable half-point.

The full-point delivered by Georgiou via a 1-up win means WP will take a ton of heart, and momentum, into their Day 2 match against Ekhuruleni.

Team Manager Werner Theart remarked that Cruickshank’s half-point was of vital importance in the context of the day. 

“It was a little too close for comfort, we knew we were playing a quality side but the boys pulled it through,” said Theart.

“Got a vital half there from Cole Cruickshank which was eventually the half-point we needed to win the game.

Heading into the remaining fixtures, Theart says he hopes the positivity shown in the morning foursomes will filter through into the players’ Singles mindsets.

“It’s almost like we got a little bit tentative this afternoon with the singles so hopefully the boys will stay as positive as they were with the foursomes and they played brilliant golf so just get them to be positive in the afternoon singles and I’m sure they’ll do well!”

Elsewhere in the A-section, Central Gauteng downed Southern Cape 8-4 after a 2-2 morning session while Eastern Province defeated Ekhuruleni 7.5-4.5. 

Photo: GolfRSA