Golfer makes awards shortlist
The Momentum gsport Awards annually honours outstanding athletes and those who make valuable contributions to raise the profile of women’s sport on the African continent.
World Blind Golf champion Charlene Pienaar made it into the finalist list of the 2023 Momentum gsport Awards.
The list of 60 finalists across 20 categories was announced recently for the 18th edition of Africa’s longest-running women’s sport recognition platform.
The award ceremony will be held this month.
The Ekurhuleni star made the shortlist in the Brand SA para-sport star of the year category with wheelchair tennis major champion Kgothatso Montjane and Simoné Kruger, who set an F38 discus world record at the Para Athletics World Championships in Paris.
The South African Disabled Golf Association ambassador made history in March when she became the first South African female disabled golfer to lift a world championship title in the 2023 ISPS Handa IBGA World Blind Championships at Milnerton Golf Club.
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This came just two days after the petite blind golfer from Ekurhuleni defended her SA Blind Open women’s title at the same venue.
Along with major winner Ashleigh Buhai, reigning SA Women’s Amateur champion Kyra van Kan and former Women’s Golf South Africa president Sarah Braude, Pienaar is one the finalists to represent GolfRSA.
“We are delighted to have a record five finalists in five different categories. Considering that over 500 nominations were received this year, this is a wonderful reflection of the progress the golf industry continues to make in raising the profile of women’s golf in South Africa, driving us to stay the course,” said the GolfRSA CEO, Grant Hepburn.
“The Momentum gsport Awards annually honours our outstanding athletes and those who make valuable contributions to raise the profile of women’s sport on the African continent.
“We congratulate all this year’s nominees, especially those who made the shortlist. A big thank you to Momentum and gsport for this recognition.”
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The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture endorsed the Momentum gsport Awards.
“The last few years were extremely testing for all sports federations and athletes in South Africa, but looking at the shortlist of finalists and the achievements being honoured, it illustrates the strength, commitment and determination with which the entire sports industry came through the profound impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Hepburn said.
“South Africa continues to produce champions and athletes of the highest calibre while honing the talents of the future stars coming through the ranks. It is fantastic to see the hard work done by the federations, administrators, coaches and ambassadors to develop and promote women’s sport in our country.
“Congratulations to our fellow finalists in the running for the federation of the year award, Cricket South Africa and Netball South Africa, who hosted very successful World Cups on home soil this year.
“Golf development and parity remain high priorities for GolfRSA and all our partners and stakeholders, and we are proud to be recognised alongside these bodies for our role in advancing and empowering women in the golf industry.”
