South Africa’s Nadia van der Westhuizen is in prime position to break a championship drought after a sizzling second round at the Joburg Ladies Open. The golfer defied her recent struggles, carding a remarkable five birdies in a row to surge to the top of the leaderboard at nine-under par. Van der Westhuizen’s birdie blitz not only boosted her score but also benefitted the “Birdies for Dignity” initiative, a cause aligned with the tournament’s mission of empowering young girls. “I just came out this week to enjoy myself,” she said, highlighting the mental shift behind her success. Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini sits just one shot behind after a consistent performance, while Thailand’s Aunchisa Utama trails by three strokes. This unexpected surge comes as a surprise for Van der Westhuizen, who had missed the cut in three of her prior four tournaments.

“I had a good start, but then I was a bit shaky in the middle. It was just a bit of a momentum loss. I didn’t hit a great tee shot on the first hole, and then on the next hole I had an unlucky lie. But after that, I just tried to stay patient and take it shot by shot. I knew I could make it up again.”

The Joburg Ladies Open is also fostering international relations. Moroccan invitee Maha Haddioui impressed with a strong showing, placing 35th after the second round.

Tournament director Bongi Mokaba emphasised the importance of such invitations, fostering ties with countries like Morocco, which also host major golf events.

“We decided to invite Maha based on her performance and to foster international relations with Morocco, which also hosts golf tournaments. This sets a precedent for reciprocal invites for our players,” Mokaba explained.

Favourable weather conditions have contributed to the players’ exceptional performances.

Mokaba specifically praised Van der Westhuizen’s birdie streak, highlighting how each birdie contributes to providing sanitary packs for girls in need.

“It’s thrilling to see the players excel. Nadia’s birdie streak, especially on her final five holes, is heartening. Each birdie contributes to our Birdies for Dignity initiative, sponsored by Spar and Dove, providing dignity sanitary packs.”

While acknowledging Van der Westhuizen’s impressive lead, Mokaba also reminded everyone of golf’s inherent unpredictability.

“Nadia’s comeback after a shaky start exemplifies the game’s ever-changing dynamics,” she said.

Can Van der Westhuizen hold onto her lead and become the first South African champion since the tournament’s co-sanctioning? Only time will tell, but her inspiring performance has certainly ignited the crowd’s anticipation.

Written By Luyanda Lunika

19/04/2024

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