First SA Triple Crown for Van Kan

19 February 2024 – Impressive barely begins to describe the way in which Kyra van Kan secured the first women’s Triple Crown on the women’s amateur golf circuit by capturing GolfRSA’s three biggest titles within a period of just 12 months.

Following wins in the 2023 South African Women’s Amateur and 2024 South African Women’s Stroke Play Championships, Van Kan completed the trifecta with a resounding eight-stroke victory in the inaugural GolfRSA International Amateur Championship at Houghton Golf Club this February.

“I am really honoured to have made history as the first champion and first Triple Crown winner,” she said, “but this victory is also a testament to the support of my family, coaches, and everyone who has believed in me.”

After her dominant 11 & 10 victory in the SA Amateur last year, Van Kan put golf on the back burner to concentrate on her academics for the remainder of the 2023 season.

By the start of 2024 she was raring to go and her first priority was to add the SA Stroke Play title to her well-stocked trophy cabinet. The former GolfRSA No 1-ranked amateur once again showcased her ability to rise to the occasion with a wire-to-wire six-stroke victory at Modderfontein Golf Club.

Although she was unable to successfully defend her SA Amateur title, losing to Charlotte Millard in the quarter finals, Van Kan teed it up a week later as the firm favourite in the women’s division of the final event in the SA Swing, the GolfRSA International Amateur. She didn’t disappoint, finishing eight strokes clear of the chasing pack.

“The course has been amazing and it enormously fun to share the venue and play alongside the men in their event,” she said. “I am over the moon with the victory and extremely honoured to be first women’s winner of this new international tournament.”

Despite the initial shock of an opening round of 80, Van Kan showed resilience by responding with a four-under-par 68 in the second round to get herself back into contention. Showing remarkable composure over the next 36 holes, she concluded her historic feat with impressive rounds of 73 and 70.

On the closing hole, the Silver Lakes member smashed a 3-wood down the middle, stuck her approach to three feet from the hole and boxed the birdie putt.

“I was quite calm during the final round,” said Van Kan. “I knew I could play this course and I was hitting the ball really well. I was playing with a lot of confidence, but I did start feeling the nerves a bit on the 16th hole, when the spectators from the men’s event came out to follow us.

“I think the key to my success was being able to keep the ball in play, and hitting fairways, because if you miss it on this course, you are in trouble. And also keeping calm and staying patient.

“After coming off the win in the SA Women’s Stroke Play and then going out in the Match Play, I had to reset my mind and I would say the only challenge I faced this week was bouncing back after a disappointing 80 in the first round. I went to the driving range and hit about 100 balls to get myself back into the groove and ready for the second round, and it paid off. I was really chuffed with how I managed my game over the last three rounds.”

Van Kan’s spectacular performance, together with her skill, determination, and mental fortitude, will undoubtedly inspire many aspiring young women in South Africa.

“Obviously it’s great when you can achieve your own personal goals, but growing up I really admired Ashleigh Buhai, and it was fantastic to meet her person after she won the Women’s British Open,” she said. “It was great to have a homegrown icon to look up to, and I hope that I can, in turn, also inspire more young women to pursue their dreams in golf.”

With her name solidified in the annals of women’s amateur golf in South Africa, Van Kan hopes to pull off one more significant victory before she leaves for the United States to take up a golf scholarship at the University of Tennessee in March.

“I am really excited to be part of history being made in the first African Amateur Championship and to tee it up in the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational,” she said. “I won the Jackie Mercer Trophy as the leading amateur in the Investec South African Women’s Open last year, but there so much more to play for at Leopard Creek and I am going to try my best to make the title mine.”

The African Amateur Championship and Africa Women’s Invitational at Leopard Creek from 21-24 February certainly does offer huge rewards for their champions.

The men’s winner will earn exemptions into The 152nd Open at Royal Troon, The Amateur Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions.

The winner of the 20-strong women’s invitational field will also earn life-changing opportunities, including starts in The Women’s Amateur Championship, Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open and The Investec South African Women’s Open in 2024, as well as the Lalla Meryem Cup and Magical Kenya Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour in 2025.