Kelli Shean is fast approaching the biggest moment of her life, as she prepares to tee off as South Africa’s first player out this morning at the 22nd Women’s World Amateur Team Championships in Stellenbosch.
Shean spoke to gsport last night, and her excitement was palpable. “In the beginning of the year,” said Shean, “I set myself some goals.
“My main goal was to be part of team representing South Africa at the World Amateur Team Championships, and to get SA to the top of the world.
“It’s a great feeling to be part of it,” Shean enthused.
Shean certainly is a part of it, and will tee off at the first hole on the De Zalze Golf Club at 9:50am, in a group including Korea’s So Yeon Ryu and Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist.
“As an amateur, you don’t get much higher than this: It’s a dream come true. It’s not just the highlight of the year; it’s the highlight of my life!”
Team-mates Stacey Bregman and Ashleigh Simon follow Shean in the next two groups.
20-year-old Bregman, who has also represented SA in Karate, will have the fight in her following impressive form in the past two years, including winning this year’s Gauteng Strokeplay Championship, making it to the SA Matchplay semi-finals, and placing third in the past two year’s SA Amateur Strokeplay Champs.
As SA’s most recognisable female golfer, 17-year-old Ashleigh Simon’s list of accomplishments provide sharp insight into this girl’s talent, notably having won the SA Amateur Strokeplay for the past three years, and a professional tournament on the Nedbank Women’s Tour in each of the past three years.
On the feeling among the team, Shean was upbeat: “It’s going really well. Absolutely awesome! We just can’t wait to get out there and represent our country.
“The three of us are really good friends. We have so much fun when we are together. We couldn’t have asked for a better team,” said Shean.
That added to keen knowledge of home conditions, all the girls need is our determined support, and the Espirito Santo Trophy may reside in SA for the next two years… Are you going to support the girls in Stellenbosch?