Lia shines in the US
The junior golfer has already set her sights on to the next World Championships where she aims to do even better.
IT’S a quiet, blustery Wednesday afternoon as Lia Naidoo walks out on the greens at the Beachwood Golf Course. There are a few raised eyebrows as the pint-sized 7-year-old strides out and places the dimpled golf ball on top of a tee. She eyes up her target – which on this occasion is the 16th hole of the course – she takes a deep breath and arches her back as she prepares to swing.
With the greatest of ease, the star golfer connects, the sound is crisp and pleasing to the ear. “Get down,” she shouts as the ball reaches its zenith. The ball lands softly, exactly where she wants it to. The hole, a par four, is easily made by Lia, who smiles enthusiastically.
The Victory Christian Academy (VCA) pupil recently returned from the World Championships of Junior Golf at Pinehurst in North Carolina, where she finished 11th. The uMhlanga resident was one of the youngest competitors from South Africa and the world who competed at the the champs.
“It was so exciting and the course was very challenging. I wasn’t happy with 11th place, because I thought I could have done better. I can’t wait to play at another world champs and make South Africa and my school proud,” she said.
Incredibly, the star golfer also paid tribute to fellow VCA pupils, Tamia Sewparsad, Saisha Shampersad, Andrea Thaver and Caitlyn Oliver, who were tragically killed in a car accident earlier this year. Her cap reads, ‘In loving memory of Caitlyn, Saisha, Tamia and Andrea’.
“I wanted to play in honour of them and they will forever be in my heart and mind whenever I’m playing on the greens,” she said.
Her father, Fred Naidoo, said he was touched by Lia’s heartwarming gesture.
“The tragedy touched every one of the pupils at the school. She just came up to us and said, ‘Mom, Dad, I want to play for them.’ She played in their memory, which was just so touching,” he said.
He added he was extremely proud of his daughter, who was not daunted by the scale of the competition in Pinehurst.
“We are very proud of her. For a person who didn’t understand the game or even like it at first to be in a position today where she’s playing better than most golfers who have been playing for a longer period of time is incredible. She lives, breathes and eats golf every day. Her passion and drive are inspiring. She believes in herself and she has a dream to become a pro,” he said.
