Teen in fine swing for SA Stroke Play win

KAMAYA Moodliar captured the coveted Abe Bailey Trophy last week thanks to a composed four-shot victory at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club’s West Course.

The 13-year-old headed into the final round of the Aon South African Stroke Play Championship with a three-shot advantage and navigated the course expertly to finish on top of the B-division leader board.

“I feel a great sense of pride and joy,” Kamaya said.

The talented youngster, who hails from Umhlali on the Kwazulu-natal north coast, revealed there was a bit of an extra incentive to win at one of the country’s most prestigious courses.

“I was determined to win as my paternal grandpa and I had made a deal a week prior to the game as he was lying in hospital.

“He said to me that if I win the tournament, he would try his best to get better. He kept his word and I kept mine. He was my inspiration and my winning gave him courage to fight to get better quickly.

“I am glad that we both enjoyed a successful finish,” Kamaya said.

After a challenging start to the tournament, Kamaya regrouped and realigned her focus.

“I was three or four shots down on the first day. When I came back on the last day, I couldn’t read the greens and most of my putts would stop 1cm short of the hole which was quite frustrating seeing that I putted well on the first two days.”

Eight years on, since she began playing, Kamaya is a well-established junior on the national circuit.

In 2018, Kamaya won the B-divison title at the Sanlam SAA Amateur Stroke Play Champs.

“I followed in the footsteps of my elder sister Senayah. She has been my inspiration through life. We get questioned all the time about who we took after, strangely none of my immediate family play golf. My younger brother Kaven also plays golf and hopes to play competitively.

“I am very grateful to my parents for such an opportunity and express my gratitude to my family for always being an inspiration to me.”

Kamaya said her early years in the sport were pivotal to the development of her game. Coaches like Aleen Peacock and Warren Abbey laid the foundation for her to chase a career in the sport.

With a busy year ahead, Kamaya has set herself a long list of goals to achieve in 2020.

“I would like to bring my handicap lower and play good golf. To persevere during hard times is a must and to focus playing one hole at a time,” she concluded.