Seven new players have been welcomed into the GolfRSA Women’s National Squad as GolfRSA continues to identify and develop the country’s most promising amateur talents.
The Class of 2023 features three groups. With eight members from last year’s programme graduating to higher tiers, the Elite Group will consist of 12 players and the B-Group has six players.
The C-Group – the most junior division – is where the new inductees who have earned their invitations will start their journey with the GolfRSA National Squad. The new inductees are KwaZulu-Natal pair Charlotte Millard (16) and Olivia Wood (16), Boland’s Erica Chen (16), Shivania Kalimuthu (15) and Casey Twidale (14) from Central Gauteng and Gauteng North duo Lea van der Merwe (14) and Kaylee Webster (14).
“We are delighted to welcome our seven new inductees to the opportunity to benefit from the GolfRSA National Squad system,” said Women’s Golf South Africa President Sarah Braude.
“The women’s national squad provides a platform for talented golfers to further develop their skills and test themselves through local and international competitions, while enabling GolfRSA to produce stronger national teams.
“We are further excited to announce that Gia Raad from Central Gauteng, Alessia Goussard from Boland, Southern Cape’s Jasmine Furstenburg and Lisa Coetzer from Ekurhuleni have graduated to the B-Group, while 2022 C-Group inductee, Zane Kleynhans from Gauteng North, moves up to the Elite Group.
“Congratulations also to Kesha Louw from Border, as well as Kera Healey and our reigning Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl champion Stephanie Barbaglia from Central Gauteng on advancing from the 2022 B-Group to the Elite Group.”
Healey enrolled at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in August 2022, while Barbaglia and Whateley completed their matric in December 2022.
“Stephanie joined San Diego State University in January this year and when Samantha, who graduated with four distinctions, joins Mississippi State University in August, we will have no less than eight Elite Group members playing collegiate golf in the United States,” Braude added.
“Another member of the squad, Zara le Keur, also graduated high school in December 2022 with five distinctions and the Western Province golfer will continue in the B-Group while she begins to pursue a degree in chemical engineering at Stellenbosch University this year.”
The seven new members had their first taste of the programme during their first national squad camp held at Serengeti Estates in January.
“The GolfRSA National Squad system provides a valuable platform for South Africa’s talented young golfers to receive the best preparation possible,” said GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn.
“South Africa has a long history of producing world-class golfers and, since the introduction of the squad programme, our amateurs has done us proud on the global stage. In addition to a spate of victories in highly-ranked international events, many of our graduates have successfully transcended to the pro ranks and in the last five years, have achieved victories on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Challenge Tour, Sunshine Tour, Sunshine Ladies Tour and the Big Easy Tour.
“With this year’s junior intake, GolfRSA continues to lay a solid foundation in women’s golf for success in preparing these young players to represent South Africa on the world stage, as amateurs and later, as professionals.”
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