Our top amateurs reflect on 2015
Womens Golf South Africa would like to thank each and every player, Union President, parent, manager, coach and all the volunteers that have helped at our tournaments, not to mention our wonderful sponsors the Nomads and Sanlam, for their support this past season.
We wish you all a blessed festive break and safe travels and we look forward to kicking off the 2016 season at the Boland Junior Championship in Langebaan.
As we bid farewell to 2015, we asked our five top ranked amateurs to share their highlights, ‘WOW moments, lessons learned and goals for next year with us:
WGSA No. 1 – KALEIGH TELFER
Playing in the Spirit International at Whispering Pines and the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan were definitely my highlights. It was an amazing experience to play on such incredibly challenging golf courses and against the best players in the world.
Another highlight for me was the Southern Cape Championship in George, where I posted my best 54 hole score of 13-under and shot my best 18 hole score of six-under-par 66.
I am very proud that I received both my Junior and Senior Protea colours this year and for receiving the Player of the Year award from the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation.
The WOW moment of this season was definitely my first albatross at the par five 11th during the Southern Cape Championship
The biggest lesson I learnt this season is that the international competition is extremely tough, and it is essential to get more international experience in order to improve.
My main goals for 2016 is to qualify for the World Amateur Team Championship in Mexico and to get my stroke average down to below par.
WGSA No. 2 – IVANNA SAMU
Each and every tournament I played this season was a highlight and a learning curve for me. I have grown so much on a personal level as a golfer through opportunities created by WGSA. International competition and playing under trying and different conditions have given me confidence. I feel more comfortable playing in wind, heat and rain now.
My WOW moment this season was lifting the Nomads SA Girls Championship title. The first time I played the SA Girls, I finished last and winning it was a huge emotional breakthrough for me. Deep down, I played my heart out for every little girl out there having a ‘long’ day, because I know how that feels.
I want to be an inspiration for all the upcoming juniors and send them a message not to give up and that through hard work and dedication anything is possible.
The biggest lesson experience taught me this year is what it really means to stay in the moment and to play shot for shot.
I had an incredible 2015 season, so for 2016, I just want to keep on improving. It will be a challenge, but I will continue to work hard, to keep my feet firmly on the ground and to reach for the stars.
WGSA No. 3 – ZETHU MYEKI
I had so many highlights in 2016, where do I start? Winning the Border Championship, climbing to number five in the Senior Rankings, finishing in the top 10 in Sanlam SA Women’s Stroke Play Championship, finishing in the top 10 at the 72-Hole Team Championship, the top three finish in the Southern Cape Championship and being part of the Border team that won at the 72-Hole Team Championship and SA Women’s Inter-Provincial. It was fantastic to actually see the results of all the hard work that I have been putting in my golf and to have all these achievement in only 11 months. That’s what makes me to work even harder. It was great to finish the season with a victory in the Ernie Els Championship, especially after all the support from the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation.
The WOW moment of the season has to be when I won the Border Championship. I only started putting more effort into my game in January and my first tournament was EP Championship. I did so badly there because I was expecting more and I guess my expectations were too high – a big mistake. The Border Championship was next and I felt good, because I had very low expectations. I told myself just to play the course, did exactly that and won.
The biggest lesson I learned this season is that the only person you are competing against is yourself and to never play your opponent, always play the course.
I am striving for top five finishes in all the tournaments I enter in 2016. I also want to defend my title in the Border Championship and try to win at least one more.
WGSA No. 4 – CARA GORLEI
Victories are always special as you have to work so hard for them. I was fortunate that I was able to pick up a mix of match play & stroke play titles this year, however, the runner-up finish in the Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship was very special in such a strong field.
Holding the number one spot in the Performance Rankings was also a great for me and to keep that title for most of the year was a huge achievement.
My WOW moment was being awarded the 2014/15 WGSA Player of the Year. To have my name on the same trophy as some of SA’s top amateurs is something I will always treasure and it was a great honour to win that award.
I have always tried to learn from my elders like Bertine Strauss & Kim Williams. They have showed me how to remain humble and to respect the game. WGSA create a solid platform for us young golfers, so if you work hard opportunities will appear.
At the moment I am playing college golf in the United States. My goal is to continue to improve and to do my best to help my team here at the University of Arkansas make the 2016 NCAA finals.
WGSA No. 5 – WOO-JU SON
My biggest highlights were the SA Women’s Inter-Provincial, my trip to Reunion and rising to the number one spot in the Junior Rankings.
It was such a privilege to be part of such an amazing team at the IPT and to help Gauteng to win the title for the first time in 11 years. The trip to the World Amateur Golf Audi Reunion on Reunion Island was an incredible experience and I am very proud of my 10 stroke victory in the Women’s Competition. It was a big achievement to become the number one in the Junior Rankings after working so hard at consistent results and putting myself in contention at every tournament.
My WOW moments of the season was making two holes-in-one at the third hole at Zwartkop Country Club and playing with Kaleigh when she made an albatross at the Southern Cape Championship – that was amazing to watch!
This season I learned what it means to never give up and to manage my emotions when I hit a bad shot. Always look ahead and concentrate on making the next one a great shot.
My goals in 2016 will be to keep my number one spot in the Junior Rankings and to play for number one in the Senior Rankings.