Spotlight on Espirito Santo Trophy challengers

Ivanna Samu, Kaleigh Telfer and Cara Gorlei will represent South Africa in a record field of 55 women’s nations at the 2016 World Amateur Team Championships, conducted by the International Golf Federation (IGF), in September.

At the 2014 Championships in Japan, a total of 50 teams competed for the Espirito Santo Trophy, which was won by Australia.

This year’s World Amateur Team Championships is hosted by the Mexican Golf Federation and will be played in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

The World Amateur Team Championships are a biennial international amateur competition conducted by the International Golf Federation, which comprises national governing bodies of golf in 141 countries. The competition is rotated among three geographic zones: Asia-Pacific, Americas and Europe-Africa.

Let’s take a closer look at the South African trio hoping to hunt down the country’s second title in the Espirito Santo Trophy at the Mayakoba El Camaleon and Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Clubs from 14-17 September:

IVANNA SAMU
Date of birth – 5 October 1998
Club – Ruimsig Country Club
Affiliation – GFG Academy
Current WGSA ranking – 1
2016 Highlights
1st – Liberty Gauteng North Stroke Play
1st – 72-Hole Teams Individual
1st – Free State Championship
1st – Western Province Championship
1st – North West Championship
Career Highlights
2014 Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur winner
2015 Sanlam SA Women’s Stroke Play winner
2015 Nomads SA Girls Championship winner
Top 10 – 2015 Duke of York Young Champions
2015 Quarter-finalist – Girl’s British Amateur Championship
Teams
2016 All-Africa Challenge Trophy winners (RSA)
2015 SA Women’s Inter-Provincial winners (Gauteng)
72-Hole Teams champions – 2015 & 2016 (Gauteng)

KALEIGH TELFER
Date of birth – 3 July 1998
Club – Bryanston Golf Club
Affiliation – Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundatio
Current WGSA ranking – 2
2016 Highlights
1st – Sanlam SA Women’s Stroke Play Championship
1st – KwaZulu-Natal Championship
1st – Gauteng Championship
Career Highlights
2015 / 2016 WGSA Number 1 ranking
2014 Represented RSA at Youth Olympics in Nanjing
2015 Victories in Boland / Ekurhuleni / Southern Cape / Free State Championships
2014 Curro SA Junior International winner
2013/ 2014 WGSA Junior Player of the Year
2013/ 2014 WGSA Most Improved Senior Player of the Year
2015 Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation Player of the Year
Teams
2016 All-Africa Challenge Trophy winners (RSA)
2015 SA Women’s Inter-Provincial winners (Gauteng)
72-Hole Teams champions – 2015 & 2016 (Captain / Gauteng)

CARA GORLEI
Date of birth – 25 March 1996
Club – Milnerton Golf Club
Affiliation – Western Province Women’s Golf
Current WGSA ranking – 19 (World Amateur Ranking 135)
2016 Highlights
Finalist Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur Championship
Started golf scholarship at University of Arkansas in August 2015
Represented Arkansas Razorbacks in 10 of 11 events
First career top 10 for Arkansas at LSU Tiger Golf Classic
Helped Razorback Team finish 12th NCAA Division 1 finals, Eugene, Oregon
Career Highlights
Reached WGSA #1 Junior
Reached WGSA #1 senior in stroke differential
WGSA Player of the Year 2014/2015
2014 Nomads SA Girls Championship winner
2014 Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl Championship winner
Represented RSA at junior and senior level internationally
Won 8 WGSA Senior Provincial titles
2014 All-Africa Challenge Trophy Junior winner
2015 Regional All Africa Challenge Trophy winner
Teams
2014 All-Africa Challenge Trophy winners (RSA)
2015 Regional All Africa Challenge Trophy winners (RSA)
2015 World Amateur Team Championship team (RSA)
2014 SA Women’s Inter-Provincial (Captain / Western Province)
Represented Western Province seven times in SA IPT and 72-Hole Teams Championships

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