Dlamini looking to spoil Bregman’s party

Stacy Bregman will take a two stroke lead into the final round of the Zambia Ladies Open Championship, but Swaziland’s Nobuhle Dlamini is determined to spoil the South African’s bid to win Zambia’s first professional women’s golf tournament in Ndola.

Bregman carded a four under 69 in the second round to take pole at six-under-par 140, but Dlamini reeled in seven birdies for a five-under-par 68, and intends to go out all guns blazing on Sunday.

“I need to get off to a solid start and I need a couple of putts drop at the right time,” Dlamini said. “I made a double bogey at the fourth with a driver off the tee, so I stopped using driver so much; I went with the three-wood and rescue instead and it paid off.

“I had longer shots into the green, but I started sinking putts. I might be a little bit more aggressive with my approaches to the greens on Sunday, but if you can put yourself in the vicinity of the pin around here, you have a chance to score.”

Dlamini joined the pro ranks in December on the back of holding the number one amateur ranking in South Africa for two years, and reaching the number two spot in the women’s amateur world golf rankings last year.

The 22-year-old earned her card for the Ladies European Tour in December, but was frustrated not to break through for a maiden win on the newly launched Sunshine Ladies Tour and wants to turn this around on Sunday.

“I am going to give everything to try and win, because I should have done better; I should have won already,” she said. 

There is more at stake than just winning, however. Dlamini also wants to draw young, black golfers to the game and by winning, she believes she can inspire a new generation.

“I have received incredible support here in Zambia, especially from the youngsters,” Dlamini said. “I looked up to black players as a youngster and I aspired to be like them. It would be great to become a role model for the next generation. They need to know that they can reach their goals, too.”

The Swazi power hitter will have her hands full against Bregman, who brought six years of international experience to Ndola, including 11 top 10 finishes and career best runner-up finishes in the 2008 Turkish Open and 2013 SA Women’s Open.

Bregman bogeyed the second, but clawed her way to the top birdies at the 8, 10, 14, 15 and 18.  The 27-year-old knows she is has a chance at a second pro title since 2008 and is equally determined to see it through to the end.

“I have a great chance to win and that’s an exciting position to be in,” she said.

“My game is in good shape and I am starting to get to know the course. I just need to go out there and play my own game as I have done for the first two rounds.

“It is going to be tough with Nobby just two shots behind and the crowd willing her over the finish line, but I am going to try and spoil the party.”

Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies champion Kim Williams lost her overnight lead with a 75 and finished in third on one over, while two-time Sunshine Ladies Tour winner Monique Smit is six strokes off the pace after a 73.

KwaZulu-Natal amateur Michaela Fletcher, who has dominated the amateur leaderboard throughout the recent Tour, in ascendancy again. The 19-year-old finished in sixth place on three over 149 after a 73, and leads by two from SA number one, Magda Kruger. The South African number one ranked amateur matched Fletcher’s score, though, to improve by five shots on her opening 78.

Yolande Duma from the SAGDB carded a 78 to finish in joint 13^th at nine over, and Zambia’s top ranked amateur, Melissa Nawa, slipped to 30^th after a second round 84.

PHOTO – Nobuhle Dlamini; credit WGSA.