Bonita’s Benoni blitz earns SA title

By: MICHAEL VLISMAS

BENONI – Namibia’s Bonita Bredenhann overcame the disappointment of a near miss two years ago and won the Sanlam South African Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship at Benoni Country Club on Wednesday.

Bredenhann beat KwaZulu-Natal’s Michaela Fletcher 3/2 in the final, producing some magnificent golf.
“It’s awesome. I’ve been waiting so long for my chance and now I’ve done it,” said Bredenhann, who was just too strong for Fletcher.
The victory is the culmination of two years of intense work by Bredenhann to strengthen her game and work on the mental side of it.
In 2010, she made it through to the final but was beaten 6/4 by South African number one Kim Williams.
“That was a big disappointment for me. But at that stage I just wasn’t strong enough. I’ve been working really hard on my game. I’ve been working with a sports psychologist to help me keep focused, and it all clicked this week.”
Bredenhann had beaten reigning SA Stroke Play champion Nobuhle Dlamini to reach Wednesday morning’s semi-finals.
Then she outplayed Bianca Theron with an 8/7 victory to make the final.
Fletcher had knocked out Williams in the quarters then beat Magda Kruger 2/1 in the semi-finals.
But while she started slowly early in the final, Bredenhann eventually found her rhythm on her way to an incredible round of six-under-par 66.
The big-hitting Namibian, who is based in Ekurhuleni, will now turn her attention to the South African Women’s Open professional tournament being played at Selborne Park Golf Club this weekend, and where several amateurs have been given exemptions to tee it up.
“I’m looking forward to that. I can go and play without any pressure and just gain more experience. I’m planning to try and qualify for my Ladies European Tour card at the qualifying school at the end of this year, so this will be very good experience for me.”

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