Gutsy Van Der Westhuizen wins SuperSport Ladies Challenge

It wasn’t easy, but Nadia van der Westhuizen’s two-over-par 74 in the final round was still enough to earn her a one-shot victory in the SuperSport Ladies Challenge presented by Sun International at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club course on Friday.

Van Der Westhuizen claimed her second Sunshine Ladies Tour title on a total of three under par, with Kaiyuree Moodley finishing second on two under with a closing 69.

Casandra Alexander took third place on one under with a final round of 73.

Van Der Westhuizen had a steady start to her round and was level par through her opening five holes.

The sixth, seventh and eighth holes however produced two bogeys and a birdie, with Van der Westhuizen turning in one over.

“It was very steady in the beginning. I hit the ball well. Then on the last couple of holes on the front nine I started to miss with my driver a little bit, and missed the fairways. If that happens on this course you are basically dead,” she said.

A birdie followed on the 11th, but Van Der Westhuizen found trouble again on the 15th with a double bogey.

“It was the driver again on the 15th. I think it was a little bit of nerves as well. But I tried to stay calm and collected for the rest of the round. I’m very happy with the result.”

The Gary Player course was a relentless challenge this week, with only three golfers managing to finish the tournament under par.

“I have to say the course was absolutely brutal. It is in beautiful condition but it is tough. If you miss the fairways, you are losing a shot or two and the greens are also quite quick. It was a tough challenge this week.”

This victory meant something special for Van Der Westhuizen.

“This one is absolutely so special for me. It’s not only in a golf aspect but definitely a personal one. I went to Q-School last year and missed my Ladies European Tour card by three shots. So, winning this one means so much in bringing some confidence back.”

Rookie Moodley had another good performance after finishing tied third in last week’s Jabra Ladies Classic.

SCORES

213 - Nadia van der Westhuizen 71 68 74

214 - Kaiyuree Moodley 74 71 69

215 - Casandra Alexander 73 69 73

216 - Chloe Salort (FRA) 76 70 70

217 - Lee-Anne Pace 75 72 70, Kiera Floyd 70 75 72

218 - Karoline Lund (NOR) 71 78 69, Harang Lee (ESP) 70 76 72, Sofie Kibsgaard (DEN) 71 73 74, Danielle du Toit 70 70 78

219 - Emie Peronnin (FRA) 72 74 73, Carolin Kauffmann (GER) 76 69 74, Emma Falcher (FRA) 71 72 76

221 - Andrea Bergsdottir (ISL) 75 73 73, Lucie Malchirand (FRA) 75 72 74, Kajal Mistry 73 72 76

222 - Celina Sattelkau (GER) 76 73 73, Andrea Lignell (SWE) 78 73 71

223 - Nina Pegova (WHT) 77 71 75, Thalia Martin (ENG) 76 71 76, Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) 73 78 72, Anne-Charlotte Mora (FRA) 74 72 77, Madelene Stavnar (NOR) 76 75 72, Maiken Bing Paulsen (NOR) 77 75 71

224 - Elina Nummenpaa (FIN) 71 79 74, Vidhatri Urs (IND) 70 75 79

225 - Gabrielle Venter 73 77 75, Lorna McClymont (SCO) 73 75 77, Bobbi Brown (a) 76 70 79, Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL) 75 76 74, Lisa Coetzer (a) 75 76 74, Ivanna Samu 77 75 73

226 - Stacy Bregman 73 76 77

227 - Isabella Deilert (SWE) 77 73 77, Nikki Hofstede (NED) 78 73 76

229 - Brittney-Fay Berger 75 74 80, Abigail O'Riordan (IRL) 78 73 78

230 - Hannah Karg (GER) 75 77 78

231 - Symone Henriques 76 75 80

232 - Tiia Koivisto (FIN) 76 76 80

233 - Pasqualle Coffa (NED) 73 76 84, Lora Assad 80 72 81

237 - Jane Turner (SCO) 76 76 85

238 - Chantal Dueringer (AUT) 72 78 88

240 - Clara Pietri (SUI) 76 76 88

Missed the cut:

153 - Rosie Belsham (ENG) 78 75