Sideri Vanova took one huge step towards a maiden Sunshine Ladies Tour title after the Czech opened up a commanding lead heading into the final round of the Joburg Ladies Open in Soweto.
Vanova threatened to run away with the title during the first 12 holes of the second round, carding birdies on the second and fifth holes and racking up three more after the turn at Soweto Country Club.
However, four bogeys on the bounce from the par four 13th pegged her back and she moved to a four-under total after solid pars saw her closing with a one-under 71.
No-one in the closing pack jumped at the chance to close gap, although Monique Smit managed to cling to second place. The Oubaai golfer will start the final round a yawning seven-shots off the pace on three-over, after mixing a lone birdie with five birdies for a 76.
Two promising stars – Lindi Coetzee from Hartebeespoort Dam and Dutch rookie Zhen Bonton – both surged to four-over with level par rounds of 72. The duo share third with three-time Sunshine Ladies Tour winner Kim Williams, who registered a 75 after a double bogey finish.
Indian’s Sharmila Nicollet, Stacy Bregman, Investec Order of Merit leader Lejan Lewthwaite and rookie Tara Griebenow were all a shot further back on five over.
The second round belonged to one woman only and Vanova was thrilled to start her season with such a strong performance in the R500 000 showpiece in Soweto.
‘It’s definitely not what I expected; to be leading in my first start is a huge surprise,’ said the Dubai-based golfer.
‘I’m really pleased to be in such a strong position, because I put a lot of hard work in with my coach in the off-season. We changed my swing, my short-game, my putting … we basically changed everything and I was nervous to see how the changes would hold up. It will be good to see if I can keep it going for one more round.’
Second Round Scores
140 – Sideri Vanova (CZE) 69 71
147 – Monique Smit 71 76
148 – Zhen Bontan (NED) 76 72, Lindi Coetzee 76 72, Kim Williams 73 75
149 – Sharmila Nicollet (IND) 76 73, Tara Griebenow 75 74, Stacy Bregman 74 75, Lejan Lewthwaite 73 76
150 – Mimmi Bergman (SWE) 75 75, Jane Turner (SCO) 72 78
151 – Ivanna Samu 76 75, Lenanda van der Watt 75 76
152 – Bonita Bredenhann (NAM) 77 75, Christina Gloor (SUI) 76 76, Stephanie Barbaglia (a) 73 79
153 – Caroline Rominger (SUI) 75 78, Woo-Ju Son (KOR) 74 79, Maria Beautell (ESP) 70 83
154 – Michaela Fletcher 77 77, Rachel Rossel (SUI) 76 78, Casandra Hall 76 78, Bianca Lohbauer (a) 80 74
155 – Zethu Myeki 78 77, Nicole Garcia 78 77, Cara Gorlei 77 78, Catherine Lau 77 78, Alexandra Bonetti (FRA) 74 81
156 – Jessica Dreesbeimdieke (NAM) 78 78, Rachael Goodall (ENG) 78 78, Hayley Davis (ENG) 77 79, Tandi McCallum 79 77, Brittney-Fay Berger 79 77, Marion Duvernay (FRA) 79 77, Kelsey Nicholas 80 76, Flora Peuch (FRA) 80 76, Emie Peronnin (FRA) 75 81
Missed the cut:-
157 – Kaiyuree Moodley (a) 77 80, Julie Berton (FRA) 78 79, Hannah McCook (SCO) 77 80
158 – Shawnelle de Lange 77 81, Clara Pietri (SUI) 78 80, Larissa Du Preez (a) 78 80, Pasqualle Coffa (NED) 80 78, Gabrielle Macdonald (SCO) 81 77
159 – Lauren Taylor (ENG) 80 79, Carey Dodds (a) 82 77
161 – Hannah Arnold (USA) 78 83, Lynette Fourie 79 82, Jordy LaBarbera (USA) 76 85, Tijana Kraljevic 82 79, Ellinor Haag (SWE) 83 78
162 – Siviwe Duma 82 80
163 – Sunelle von Molendorff 78 85, Kyle Roig (PUR) 79 84, Kim de Klerk (a) 82 81, Anna Magnusson (SWE) 82 81, Francesca Cuturi 84 79
164 – Chiara Contomathios 83 81
165 – Kristyna Napoleaova (CZE) 83 82
166 – Eleonora Galletti (a) 79 87
170 – Crizelda van Niekerk 82 88, Yolanda Duma 87 83
172 – Carmen Taljaard (a) 84 88
174 – Madeleen Grosskopf 85 89
