Valiant Proteas clinch second in AACT in Morocco

10 December 2024 – Kesha Louw, Lisa Coetzer and Gia Raad overcame early challenges to rally to a runner-up finish behind the home heroes at Tazegzout Golf Club at the 2024 All Africa Challenge Trophy in Morocco in late November.

Top-ranked Sofia Cherif Essakali spearheaded her side’s title charge thanks to some exhilarating golf which saw her sandwich a superb 66 between two rounds of 69. Her total of 204 was six clear of Louw, the Protea team’s best performer for the week.

In third, it was the Kenyan trio who managed to cling to the final podium position with a finishing score of seven-over.

Louw began well with a 69 but slipped in round two with a 73. The Mount Edgecombe Country Club member roared back into a podium spot with a round of 68 to close as one of just two players to end the championship in red numbers.
GolfRSA No. 1 amateur Coetzer was third on 217 after rounds of 72, 72 and 73.

It was a chaotic week for South Africa, who sent a SOS to fellow GolfRSA National Squad member Gia Raad at the 11th hour.

“Zane Kleynhans, our third, was forced to withdraw on the eve of the championship with a back injury, but luckily Gia was able to secure an emergency visa and she could join the team for the second round,” said Womens Golf South Africa Vice-President Madelein de Wet, who travelled with the team to Agherdir.

Showing their resilience, South Africa welcomed Raad into the fold and got on with business and despite some great play over the course of the event they were unable to make a dent in the Morocco lead. While Raad only played two rounds, she bounced back after a jet-lagged opening 77 with a final round 73 to help the Proteas secure second place.

At the close of the final round, Morocco were able to hold on by the slimmest of margins as they won by two strokes on seven-under, but the hosting nation’s win did end South Africa’s run of three consecutive championship victories.

“The trip to Morocco was amazing and I think we all learned a lot. The South African team had a great team spirit, despite the bumpy start. It was a great environment, and the whole experience was really enjoyable,” said Louw, who won the Girls U-16 Individual Competition.

“Obviously, we wanted to go over there and win but we came up a bit short. The Morocco team were very good and credit to them for winning. It was well deserved. We worked well as a team, and it was a bit disappointing to be that close but not get the win.”

Louw has been working hard on all the aspects of her game and it paid off with one of her best showings at this level.

“Individually, yes, I did well … it was one of my best tournaments in terms of results. So, there’s a lot of good things to take away from the visit to Morocco,” added Louw.

The rising star was soaking up the lessons of playing in foreign conditions and is hoping it will help take her game to the next level.

“I have some big ambitions in the game … to play well wherever I tee it up and hopefully this allows me to make some big moves like joining a college team in the States. It’s weeks like this that give me the confidence to carry on and keep pushing to play my best golf, to put myself into contention regularly and then hopefully get some wins under my name.

“Being a part of the South African team is always going to be a highlight, so while I’m always looking ahead to help grow my skills, I have to sit back after a trip like this and be thankful to everyone who has helped play their part in getting me to this point. Hopefully, there will be some more trips like this and I guess, not winning has made us South African hungry for the chance to get over the line when it next presents itself.”