Today at the SuperSport Ladies Challenge, Nadia van der Westhuizen demonstrated why her name is synonymous with grit and grace on the greens.
In a display that mixed precision with a dash of humour, Nadia carved out a one-shot lead at the notoriously tricky Gary Player Country Club.
Nadia, no stranger to success on both the Sunshine Ladies Tour and the Vodacom Origins of Golf, delivered the lowest round of the day—a crisp four-under-par 68 that brought her total to five under.
“It was a wonderful day. It started off a bit shaky with the first hole but I had a good up-and-down for par there, and then just kept it steady from there.
Then I just tried to keep it together on the back nine. I’m very happy with the round,” she explained, her tone as relaxed as a chat over a pint at the clubhouse.
The drama on the fairways wasn’t limited to Nadia’s steady play. Her nearest rival, Danielle de Toit, posted a round of 70 to settle at four under, while last week’s Jabra Ladies Classic winner and 2023 champion, Casandra Alexander, trailed on two under with a 69.
Nadia’s round featured two under par to start, followed by three birdies and only a single bogey on a challenging back nine—a mix of risk and restraint that any veteran golfer can appreciate.
Reflecting on the back nine, Nadia added, “The first birdie on the back nine (on the 10th) was good, but I think I got a little bit ahead of myself and was too excited and made a drop on the 11th.
My caddie told me to keep calm, just slow it down a bit, and stick to the process.” Her ability to regroup under pressure not only put her in the lead but also reminded us that sometimes, it’s the calm amidst the storm that wins the day.
The Gary Player Country Club certainly lived up to its reputation for testing even the best. Only eight players managed to crack under par on the second day—a statistic that speaks volumes about the demanding layout of the course.
“I must say the course is really playing tough. What I’ve learned in the past is that I don’t have to shoot lights out. Boring golf actually does it.
For me it’s just about playing steady golf,” Nadia remarked, a philosophy that has clearly served her well.
Looking ahead to Friday’s final day, Nadia’s game plan is refreshingly simple: “I’ll definitely just stick to the same thing, do my processes well and just try and keep it in play.”
In an event where every stroke counts, that measured approach might just be the winning formula.
Adding a bit of extra sparkle to the day, the second round also delivered a hole-in-one courtesy of South African Symone Henriques on the par-three 13th hole—an ace that, while sending her tournament total to seven over, still lit up the gallery.
In a contest where experience meets precision, the SuperSport Ladies Challenge has proven to be a battle of wits, steadiness, and a love for the game, with Nadia van der Westhuizen leading the charge with style and a healthy dose of humility.
