Southern Cape mowed down Gauteng North in a pressure-packed final round tussle to claim a historic first victory in the 56th South African Inter-Provincial Championship on Friday.

The 2016 champions, who joined in the country’s premier team event in 2009, defeated Gauteng North 7.5-4.5 to convert three successive third place finishes into success on another blustery day at the Fish River Sun Country Club.

‘I am beyond words,’ said delighted Southern Cape president Tannah Harris. ‘I am so incredible proud of what this team has accomplished. They have sent a clear message to all the doubting Thomas’s who didn’t think we belong in the premier SA Inter-Provincial – we came, we saw, we conquered.’

Gauteng North topped the standings through four rounds after knocking out Central Gauteng, Boland and Ekurhuleni, but Southern Cape edged ahead of the youthful side on games points with victories over Boland, Western Province and Central Gauteng.

‘We had 30 games points to their 25 and, given the way Gauteng North performed this week, we thought we might need those five games points,’ said Southern Cape manager Billy Valentyn.

‘In the end, though, the players got the job done in spectacular style.’

Southern Cape took into a 2.5-1.5 lead in the foursomes and needed only four points in the singles to seal the deal.

Ivan Williams and Henk Geldenhuys kept the side on the attack when they picked up the first two vital points. First Geldenhuys beat Dylan Kok 5 & 3 and it wasn’t long before Williams followed suit, underlining his as the Most Valued Player at this year’s championship when he defeated Marco Loubser 3 & 2.

‘Henk and Ivan’s victories really fired up the rest of the squad, especially our rookies,’ said Valentyn.

‘Caylum (Boon) had a tough match against Richard Joubert, who hit everything stiff, but Brandon Cloete and Hans-Jurie Human stayed strong under the pressure to pick up the next two points. Then Jade Buitendag made it five and the victory was definitely ours.’

Cloete defeated Andrew van der Knaap 2 & 1, Human edged out Estiaan Conradie 1-up and Buitendag downed Philip Kruse 2-up.

Gauteng North’s Albert Venter and Ruan Conradie won the last two matches against Andre Nel and Nicholas Mitchell 1-up.

‘I think when Jade won it really hit home that we were the 2016 champions,’ Valentyn said. ‘Andre and Nicholas Mitchell had two very tough matches that went all the way to the 18th but hats off to Albert and Ruan for fighting until the last hole to win those games for Gauteng North.

‘The Daisies were formidable opponents for such a young and inexperienced them. They never backed down and we salute their incredible performance just a year after they earned promotion. It’s the nature of the game that there has to be a winner and a loser, and this one is ours to celebrate.

‘I am incredibly proud of the eight men on the team. Their never-say-die attitudes won the day for Southern Cape. I also want to thank Tannah and my wife, our assistant manager, Erica, for all their invaluable support. We are bringing the trophy home.’

Meanwhile Ekurhuleni downed Central Gauteng 8-4 to finish third and Western Province pummelled Boland 9.5-2.5 to finish in fourth in the standings. Defending champions Central Gauteng in fifth will be back to fight another day, it is relegation time for Boland, who finished at the bottom of the log with two points.

Picture of the Southern Cape team courtesy of Shannon Bright

A-SECTION RESULTS – FINAL ROUND

Southern Cape 7.5 vs Gauteng North 4.5

Foursomes:

Williams/Geldenhuys beat Kok/Joubert 1Up;

Cloete/Buitendag halved with van der Knaap/Loubser;

Human/Boon lost to Venter/Kruse 1Down;

Mitchell/Nel beat Conradie/Conradie 2 & 1

Singles:

Ivan Williams beat Marco Loubser 3 & 2;

Henk Geldenhuys beat Dylan Kok 5 & 3;

Caylum Boon lost to Richard Joubert 3 & 1;

Hans-Jurie Human beat Estiaan Conradie 1Up;

Jade Buitendag beat Philip Kruse 2Up;

Brandon Cloete beat Andrew van der Knaap 2 & 1;

Andre Nel lost to Albert Venter 1Down;

Nicholas Mitchell lost to Ruan Conradie 1Down

Ekurhuleni 8 vs Central Gauteng 4

Foursomes:

Rall/du Preez lost to Muller/Gibb 3 & 2;

Schaper/van Tonder lost to Mcintyre/Barker 4 & 3;

Boshoff/Mostert beat de Smidt/Rossiter 3 & 2;

McClatchie/Ellis-Cole beat Dreyer/Stapleton 3 & 2

Singles:

Rowan du Preez halved with David Muller;

Jaco Rall beat Kyle Barker 4 & 3;

Jayden Schaper halved with David Mcintyre;

Chris van Tonder beat Tyrone Gibb 1Up;

Dylan Mostert beat Jason Rossiter 4 & 2;

Paul Boshoff beat Shaun Stapleton 5 & 4;

Angus Ellis-Cole lost to Darin de Smidt 1Down;

Kyle McClatchie beat Ryan Dreyer 1Up

Boland 2.5 vs Western Province 9.5

Foursomes:

Africa/Rooi halved with James/Colditz;

Basson/Croy lost to O’Reilly/van der Merwe 3 & 2;

Higgo/Loubser lost to Trocado/Roux 5 & 4;

Ochse/De Villiers lost to Filippi/Sherriff 3 & 1

Singles:

Cedric Rooi halved with Paul Colditz;

Pierre De Villiers lost to Elton James 3 & 2;

Neswill Croy lost to Carlo O’Reilly 4 & 2;

Christian Basson beat Gerlou Roux 1Up;

Karl Ochse halved with Altin van der Merwe;

Garrick Higgo lost to Michael Sherriff 2 & 1;

Keelan Africa lost to Luca Filippi 2 & 1;

Herman Loubser lost to Luke Trocado 1Down

A-SECTION FINAL LOG

(Pos-Union-Played-Won-Drawn-Lost-Points-Matches won)

1 Southern Cape (5, 4, 0, 1, 8, 37.5)

2 Ekurhuleni (5, 3, 1, 1, 7, 32)

3 Gauteng North (5, 3, 0, 2, 6, 29.5)

4 Western Province (5, 2, 0, 3, 4, 34.5)

5 Central Gauteng (5, 1, 1, 3, 3, 24.5)

6 Boland (5, 0, 2, 3, 2, 22)

Source: South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee