Little Son surprises at SA Women’s Open

Pintsized Woo-Ju Son sparkled in her debut at the SA Women’s Open at San Lameer Country Club on Sunday. The 14-year-old braved the strong, swirling wind that coursed over the stunning Hibiscus Coast layout to open with a six-over-par 78 in testing conditions.

The country’s top ranked junior leads the amateur field alongside Serengeti’s Lejan Lewthwaite, while reigning Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur champion Carrie Park from Korea also claimed a share of sixth in her Sunshine Ladies Tour debut.

The trio lag seven shots off the pace from defending champion Lee-Anne Pace and Kim Williams, who claimed the Jackie Mercer Trophy as the leading amateur in the national championship in 2009 and 2013.

Shawnelle de Lange erased five bogeys, but double bogeys at eight and 10 and a triple bogey finish dropped last year’s joint medallist to seven over.

She shares the ninth spot with top Swiss amateur Azelia Meichtry, who won twice on the local women’s amateur circuit here in South Africa earlier this year.

Ethel Ruthenburg grabbed a seat on the bus at eight over and reigning Sanlam SA Women’s Stroke Play champion Ivanna Samu finished alone at nine over.

FIRST ROUND AMATEUR LEADERBOARD
All competitors RSA unless otherwise specified and amateurs indicated as (AMA)
78 - Lejan Lewthwaite (AMA); Woo-Ju Son (AMA)
79 - Shawnelle de Lange (AMA); Azelia Meichtry (AMA) SUI
80 – Ethel Ruthenberg (AMA)
81 - Ivana Samu (AMA)
84 - Vicki Traut (AMA)
85 – Danielle du Toit (AMA)
86 - Caro Els (AMA) NAM
87 - Sarah Bouch (AMA); Tara Griebenow (AMA)
89 - Frankie Bosman (AMA); Lindi Coetzee (AMA)
95 - Katia Shaff (AMA) AUT
96 - Cindy Dalton (AMA)
99 - Leigh van der Berg (AMA)
101 - Lynette Pretorius (AMA)
107 - Chanelle Botha (AMA)

PHOTO – Woo-Ju Son; credit Jean-Pierre Vidot.