Braude, Macnab make 2020 Momentum gsport Awards Shortlist

Womens Golf South Africa President Sarah Braude and South African number ranked Caitlyn Macnab are both finalists in the 2020 Momentum gsport Awards; credit GolfRSA

1 August 2020 – GolfRSA is delighted to announce that Womens Golf South Africa President Sarah Braude and GolfRSA’s top ranked Caitlyn Macnab both made the short-list of finalists for the 2020 Momentum gsport awards.

This year marks the 15th edition of the longest-running women’s sports awards in South Africa, which honour South African athletes and women who promote the development, growth and coverage of women’s sport in South Africa and Africa.

Braude stands opposite Springbok Women’s captain Babalwa Latsha and Virginia Mabaso, Development Co-ordinator for Rowing South Africa in the Women of the Year category, while Macnab made the shortlist with Caitlin Rooskrantz (gymnastics) and Phakama Yantolo (fencing) in the Emerging Athlete category.

“We are extremely proud of Sarah and Caitlyn’s recognition in this year’s Momentum gsport awards,” said GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn.

“Sarah’s passion for women’s golf development led her to golf administration in 2011 and following her tenure as the President of the former Western Province Women’s Golf Union, she embraced her role as the Vice-President of Womens Golf South Africa in 2017.

“Under the umbrella of the governing body GolfRSA, Sarah’s contribution to growing the game is evident in the vast development programme that has been established across South Africa in the last three years and the ongoing success of the GolfRSA Squad programme.

2020 Momentum gsport Awards Women of the Year finalist Sarah Braude, President of Womens Golf South Africa

“Sarah took the helm at Womens Golf South Africa just after the government issued the hard lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic and she has guided women’s golf brilliantly in these troubled times.

“During the process of compiling GolfRSA’s comprehensive Risk Mitigation Strategy and Safety Protocol Documentation for the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Sarah proved invaluable with her eye for detail. She made a massive contribution in our successful bid to re-open golf at Alert Level 3 and she is very deserving of the Women of the Year award nomination.

“Caitlyn has been a dominant force in the women’s game and has held the number one spot in the Open and Junior Amateur rankings since the end of 2018. We are incredibly proud of her achievements.

“Kajal Mistry and Kaiyuree Moodley were double finalists in 2017 and 2019 respectively. GolfRSA won the Federation of the Year award and our media liaison Lali Stander won the first Woman in PR & Sport Award in 2018. To once again have double finalists is a nod to the incredible work and commitment by so many in the development and administration of women’s golf.”

Elite Squad member Macnab won four provincial titles, the prestigious Nomads SA Girls Championship and the individual honours in the SA Women’s Inter-Provincial and WGSA 72-Hole Team Championship in 2019.

2020 Momentum gsport Awards Women of the Year finalist GolfRSA No 1 Caitlyn Macnab

“Caitlyn enjoyed great success on the domestic women’s golf circuit last year and in February 2020, she made history winning the Aon South African Women’s Stroke Play Championship and Aon South Africa Women’s Amateur Championship in the same calendar year – a rare double in the history of these prestigious World Amateur Golf Ranking championships,” Braude said.

“She also captained the GolfRSA Proteas to a tie for second in the prestigious Astor Trophy in Canada last year, which marked our best result yet in the quadrennial showpiece between Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Canada and South Africa.

“Caitlyn is a great ambassador for GolfRSA both on and off the golf course and we are incredibly excited that she has been announced as a finalist in the 2020 Momentum gsport Awards Emerging Athlete category.

“On a personal note, I am honoured and humbled to be a finalist in the 2020 Momentum gsport Awards Women of the Year category.

“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the many volunteers, administrators, coaches, partners and sponsors working ‘behind the scenes’ who remain passionate and committed to growing women’s golf in South Africa, as well as the enormous dedication of the players (and their families) striving to fulfil their dreams through playing this sport.

“Womens Golf South Africa is proud to provide a stage for young females and women to not only play the game competitively or socially, but to also dream big and to realise a future using golf as their vehicle to success.

“Thank you to gsport and Momentum for creating this platform to not only recognise the achievements and efforts in women’s sport but also be a voice and give exposure to women’s sport. Congratulations to all the nominees and this year’s finalists in the 22 categories – to be in the company of these amazing women is inspiring.

“I received the news that Caitlyn and I made the shortlist of finalists while I was playing golf. I was so thrilled that I literally did not think I would be able to stay calm enough to hit the next shot into the green, but it ended up being my best shot of the day – thank you Momentum and gsport.”

Winners are decided by a dedicated panel and public voting, so throw your support behind Braude and Macnab by voting every day on the gsport Voting Hall at gsport.co.za/voting.

Voting closes at 6pm on Monday, 10 August. Winners will be announced at the virtual Momentum gsport Awards on 31 August 2020. Broadcast platforms will be announced shortly.

The Momentum gsport awards are endorsed by Sport and Recreation South Africa.

#gsport15 FINALISTS 

Category Finalist Name Finalist Name Finalist Name
1 Momentum Athlete of the Year  Babalwa Latsha Anrune Weyers Hayley Nixon
2 Athlete with Disability  Anrune Weyers Kgothatso Montjane Catherine van Staden
3 Emerging Athlete of the Year Caitlin Rooskrantz Caitlyn Macnab Phakama Yantolo
4 Coach of the Year  Desiree Ellis Dinesha Devnarain Dorette Badenhorst
5 School Sports Star Awande Malinga Kaitlyn Ramduth Zahraa Bodiat
6 Woman in TV Andee Mahamba Motshidisi Mohono Natalie Germanos
7 Woman in Radio  Itumeleng Banda Lebo Motsoeli Nthabiseng Mamabolo
8 Woman in Social Media  Jo Prins Lamla Mamoti Nandi Buthelezi
9 Woman in Print  Busisiwe Mokwena Lynn Butler Marizanne Kok
10 Woman in PR and Sponsorship Keabetswe Taele Lona Benya Nqobile Gama
11 Woman of the Year  Babalwa Latsha Sarah Braude Virginia Mabaso
12 Style Star Mbali Sigidi Tatjana Schoenmaker Zinhle Ndawonde
13 Supporter of the Year Mamello Makha Selina Munsamy Shannon Landman-Kriel
14 Team of the Year Banyana Banyana Momentum Proteas SPAR Proteas Netball Team
15 Volunteer of the Year Mpho Makhoba Selina Munsamy Siya Loyilane
16 Federation of the Year Cricket South Africa Netball South Africa SA Gymnastics
17 Special Recognition Award Elizabeth Smith Tshepi Moropa Sue Pather
18 Sponsor of the Year HollywoodBets SPAR Telkom
19 African Woman in Sport [New Award] Caroline Nyadiero Nontuthuko Mgabhi Usher Komugisha
20 Global Woman in Sport [New Award] Babalwa Latsha Karla Pretorius Mignon du Preez