Winning a professional golf title is tough at the best of times. Doing it while battling flu – and coming off a gruelling 27-hole marathon the day before – takes a rare kind of grit. Gabrielle Venter showed she has that in abundance on Friday, clinching the Platinum Ladies Open title at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate in style.
It was far from a straightforward road to victory. After the opening round, the 21-year-old from Bloemfontein found herself eight shots off the pace. But she stepped up and produced a superb final-round charge, closing with birdies on 17 and 18 to sign for a brilliant six-under-par 66 and force a playoff.
Her late surge lifted her to 16-under-par overall, drawing her level with Norway’s Madelene Stavnar, who carded a 68, and setting up a tense showdown.
With momentum on her side, Venter returned to the par-five 18th for the playoff. Despite being in a tricky divot, she stuck to an aggressive game plan. It paid off as she rolled in a birdie to seal her second Sunshine Ladies Tour title on the first extra hole.
“I’m thrilled with the win,” said Venter, daughter of Free State cricketing great Kosie Venter.
“I stayed consistent, even when the putts weren’t dropping early on the back nine. I knew on 18 I had to be aggressive and hit a good drive to give myself a chance of reaching the green in two.”
Venter won’t have much time to celebrate. From Thursday, she’ll be back in action at the Ladies Invitational at Royal Johannesburg, where she’ll be chasing back-to-back titles. – MORGAN PIEK
