The University of Pretoria effectively sealed their fourth USSA (University Sport South Africa) Championship title with a second straight victory in the match play section at the Koro Creek Country Estate in Limpopo on Thursday.

Under the count out format of this year’s championship, their third round match up against the University of Stellenbosch A-side on Friday should be a mere formality, but the 2008, 2009 and 2011 champions are looking to continue their undefeated winning march which began with an emphatic 21 stroke victory in the Stroke Play qualifier on Tuesday.

Heading up the A-division in the 16-team championship, the eight-man team breezed past Centurion Academy A with a 6.5 – 2.5 result in the first round of first match play on Wednesday and rode that hot form to a 7-2 victory against The Golf School of Excellence – Johannesburg (TSGE-Jhb) in Thursday’s second round.

“The guys all fought like Trojans for every inch of advantage,” Tuksgolf Club and Academies head coach and technical director Llewellyn van Leeuwen said.

“The guys got off to a great start in the foursomes with Andrew van der Knaap and Ryan Lane setting the tone with a 7&6 win to help the team to a 3-0 lead going into the singles.

“Matt Spacey put together a ball striking display of note and held off a spirited challenge from his opponent, while Werner van Niekerk claimed another point for the team with a 4&3 win.

Van den Knaap was is excellent form again, knocking in the winning putt to give the side victory.”

In the other A-Division match, Stellenbosch A suffered their second defeat at the hands of Centurion Academy A, who won the match 6-3.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS

A Division
University of Pretoria beat The Golf School of Excellence 7-2
Centurion Academy A beat University of Stellenbosch A 6-3

B DIVISION
Central University of Technology beat North West University 5-4
University of Johannesburg beat Nelson Mandela University of Technology 5.5-3.5

C DIVISION
The Golf School School of Excellence – Pretoria beat Centurion Academy B 6.5-2.5
Varsity College A halved Varsity College B 4.5-4.5

D DIVISION
Cape Peninsula University of Technology beat Rhodes University 6.5-2.5
University of Stellenbosch B beat University of Cape Town 6.5-2.5