Port Alfred golfer’s career taking off
After competing in SA, US, Van Zyl aims for Europe
Port Alfred’s Chante van Zyl is firmly establishing herself among SA’s golf elite, following her debut campaign on the Sunshine Tour circuit and the ongoing Standard Bank Pro Am series.
The 24-year-old pro golfer who graduated cum laude with a BSc degree from Wayland Baptist University in Texas, US, in 2021 thanks to a scholarship, is back in SA, trying to earn her stripes that will see her achieve her dream — participating on the Ladies’ European Tour.
“I really enjoyed my four years in the US. The standard of college golf is very high, she said in an interview at the Port Alfred Royal Golf Club.
“I played some big courses [including Las Vegas and Dallas] against tough opposition that will hopefully help me to break through to the European tour.”
Dad Andre doubles as her manager now that the former provincial golfer is retired from playing.
“I know a little bit about golf having played at provincial level, so I feel I can guide her and mentor her as a golfer and a father,” he said.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be managing my daughter,” Andre said.
Chante had an early introduction to golf, accompanying her dad to golf courses in the Free State, where they were staying at the time. “I was about seven years old when my dad took me to the driving range for the first time,” Chante said. “He just told me to swing and play around to see if I liked it.
“I then started going to the driving range regularly with my dad and it wasn’t long before the golf bug bit.”
Once Chante had turned 10, Andre got his daughter more involved in the sport. “I started playing tournaments in the Free State among the boys and got exposure through what was known at the time as foundation golf. As I progressed, I graduated to tournaments for ladies.”
Chante built up experience playing in various senior ladies tournaments, but the desire to study in the US and play golf at the same time, lay deep within.
That Chante achieved a scholarship to study in Texas while still in grade 11 is testament to her academic and golfing prowess. In order to achieve the scholarship, she had to maintain a high standard of performance on the greens.
“I started my college career in 2018 and the golf was amazing as I played a
lot of tournaments on various golf courses with many international students — it was a great experience.”
Andre said his daughter played senior provincial golf from the age of 13, representing Free State and EP.
“In these tournaments you accumulate order of merit points so, based on that, she managed to secure the scholarship. She’s played in 15 states in the US against the best in the world at college level.”
Andre said it was safe to say that Chante had moved to the next level in her golfing career because the competition in the US among college golfers is of an extremely high standard.
Evidence of that potential was clear from her junior days having ended runner-up twice in the SA Ladies’ Senior Championships while still at school. “From an early age we could see that there is some talent there,” Andre said.
Chante returned to SA in 2022 and
earned her pro tour card based on her achievements in the US. She has her sights firmly set on playing “qualifying school” in Europe.
“It’s a tough tournament as only a certain number of players achieve their pro card to participate on the Ladies’ European Tour,” Chante said.
Chante who is ranked number 13 in the country, said her rookie year on the Sunshine Circuit was “an eye-opener because we don ’ t only compete among our own women golfers, but also European women. It was an eyeopener, and I could see what to expect when I eventually get to Europe.
“I’m not ready yet, I need a bit more experience before I campaign on the European Tour,” she said.
The father and daughter relationship is solid when it comes to golfing matters. “Our relationship is good, and I learn a lot from my dad who is a former provincial golfer himself,” Chante said.
Andre nodded his head in approval, saying: “Yes, that is probably true because my golfing experience helps me to notice certain shortcomings that I can point out to her. So, it’s an absolute privilege to be managing her.”
Chante spends a lot of time
It’s a tough tournament as only a certain number of players achieve their pro card to participate on the Ladies’ European Tour
researching golf before tournaments but is not averse to taking time off from her passion.
“I like to walk my great Dane and I do a lot of reading in my spare time — one has to have a little bit of time away from golf.”