Telfer leads SA Juniors at Curro World Junior

South Africa’s number one ranked junior Kaleigh Telfer will lead a strong South African contingent in the Curro SA Junior International, which tees off at Langebaan Country Estate on Tuesday.

Telfer and her South African peers will showcase their talents at the Gary Player-designed layout on the West Coast against a line-up of top golfers from 13 countries, including Australia, Austria, Denmark, England, Germany, Iceland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, the United States and Zimbabwe.

The Curro SA Junior International forms part of the World Junior Golf Tournament Series, carries world ranking points for the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings and entrants are aged between of 12 and 19.

Telfer broke through for her first provincial victory at the Mpumalanga Championship in October.

She followed with a wire-to-wire win at the KwaZulu-Natal Junior Championship in December and so far this season, has notched a top five finish in the Boland Junior Girls Championship in January, fourth at the Eastern Province Championship, third at the Gauteng North Junior Girls and a top 10 finish at the recent Border Championship.

However, the leading South African boy or girl will earn an all-expenses paid trip to the RB German Juniors, the final event in the WJGTS this year, and Telfer could face stiff competition from fellow Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation member, Bianca Theron.

The Boland golfer won the Nomads WGWP Junior Championship in early January before she set off for the United States. Theron gained valuable experience going up against the world’s top juniors in the Annika Invitational at the Reunion Resort in Florida and, upon her return, claimed a two shot victory in the Gauteng North Junior Girls Championship.

Other top SA juniors sure to pose a threat include SA number two junior Cara Gorlei from the Western Province, who has also been in impressive form lately with three runner-up and two top five finishes, as well as number four, Carrie Park from Gauteng North, who lifted the Eastern Province Championship title two weeks ago.

Nomads South Africa, the main benefactor of junior golf in South Africa, has partnered with Curro in endorsing the event, along with the South African Golf Association (SAGA) and Women’s Golf South Africa (WGSA).

Nomads Golf Coordinator, Ken Walker, was especially pleased that this year’s event will also see at least 10 players from the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) tee it up the tournament.

“We welcomed the chance to endorse this tournament and partner with Curro on the SA Junior International,” Walker said.

“We see this as an ideal opportunity to assist the South African Golf Development Board players that would never be afforded the opportunity to compete with their international peers. The experience the 10 young players Nomads have assisted will stay with them forever.”

Curro CEO, Dr. Chris van der Merwe, said the group of schools is proud to be associated as the naming sponsor.

“Through the Curro SA Juniors International we are dedicated to create sustainable international platforms for South Africa’s junior golf players. The Curro SA Juniors International will build the confidence of the South African junior golfers, and will simultaneously prepare them for a great future.

“We are proud of our involvement in this world-class event and hope it provides the perfect platform to promote good citizenship, lifelong global friendships and one of the best practical learning experiences on the sports field.”