JOHANNESBURG – Kajal Mistry from Bryanston produced a well-timed birdie and eagle near the end of the final round to clinch a four-stroke victory in the Ekurhuleni Championship, while local favourite Cassandra Hall swept to second with an equally impressive finish at ERPM Golf Club yesterday.
Mistry lagged well off the pace after an opening 76, but the 15-year-old Randpark golfer vaulted into the top spot at three-over-par 147 with a second round 71 that featured an eagle at the par five 13 and a birdie-birdie finish.
She led by one from Hall and was two shots clear of fellow Gauteng golfer Chiara Contomathios and Tara Griebenow from Western Province going into the final round.
Mistry bogeyed the opening hole in the final round, but recovered quickly with a birdie at the fourth.
She had back-to-back bogeys at six and seven, but clawed one shot back with a birdie at 10. After dropping another shot at 12, she settled with three straight pars before she got to two over with a birdie at 16 and eagle at the par five 17th.
No-one likes to finish with a bogey, but for Mistry, her final effort of 72 was good enough to finish well clear of the chasing pack.
“Actually, I wasn’t too upset because I was playing for a bogey at the final hone,” said Mistry, who triumphed on three over 219.
“I put myself into trouble off the tee. I hit the tee shot right and I was behind some trees, so all I could do was punch out. I’m very happy that I managed to get myself on the green from there and was able to two-putt for the bogey.”
She rallied with a superb finish to edge out Myeki for second, collecting a birdie pair at 13 and 14 and closing with three birdies on the trot for a 75. The Border player closed with a solid 70, but had to settle for third on 224.
In the B-Division, Lezette Vermaak from Glendower stretched a one stroke overnight lead to a two shot victory, while Neela Jivan from Serengeti followed an opening 38 with a final round 32 to win the C-Division title by six points.
– African News Agency
