Bloemfontein’s Gabrielle Venter showed exactly that on Friday, producing a performance full of heart to claim the Platinum Ladies Open title at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate.

In a thrilling finish, Venter caught fire when it mattered most, birdieing her final two holes in regulation to sign for a superb 66. That lifted her to 16-under par, alongside Norway’s Madelene Stavnar, who posted a 68 to force a playoff.

Gabrielle Venter. Photo: Sunshine Tour

Carrying that momentum straight into the playoff, Venter held her nerve and sealed her second Sunshine Ladies Tour title with a birdie on the very first playoff hole – a fitting end to a gutsy display.

All of it, remarkably, while feeling under the weather.

Despite battling flu symptoms throughout the week, Venter knew conservative golf wouldn’t get the job done. After a steady but frustrating stretch on the back nine – where the putts simply refused to drop – she made a conscious decision to up the ante.

That aggressive mindset paid off when it mattered most, particularly on the closing holes.

Following her win, the 21-year-old former Eunice learner said she is thrilled to have recorded the victory despite struggling with flu.

“I am very happy. I played great, hit some really good shots, and didn’t make any mistakes,” said Venter.

Madelene Stavnar. Photo: Sunshine Tour

“I’m very positive about that and thrilled with the win. I’m still struggling with the flu, but the body actually held up quite nicely today.

“Coming into the back nine, I was hitting great shots but just wasn’t making any putts, which has been the trend this week, but I stayed consistent. I hit the flag on the 15th, and it shot me over the green, so I wasn’t the happiest person then!

“On the 17th, I honestly just wanted to hit it well, and I was quite disappointed to leave myself a metre putt.

Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir. Photo: Sunshine Tour

“I knew on the 18th I had to go for it and hit a really good drive because the line is quite tricky there. I hit a great drive and gave myself the opportunity to go for the green in two. It’s a guaranteed birdie if you hit a few good putts, and I’m very happy with how it turned out.”

The playoff took the contenders straight back to the par-five 18th, where Venter again chose bravery over caution. Faced with a tricky lie in a divot, she backed her ability – and it paid off in style.

While Venter and Stavnar went toe-to-toe for the title, the chasing pack kept the pressure on throughout the day. Bobbi Brown, Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir, and Jordan Rothman shared third place in a tightly contested leaderboard.

Venter is the daughter of the Free State cricketing great Kosie Venter, who was renowned for showing the same kind of tenacity with both bat and ball as an all-rounder.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek  cvs