Bryanston Country Club‘s Kaiyuree Moodley is getting ready to represent South Africa at the Youth Olympic Games.
This 17-year-old golfer won both the junior and senior categories at the Southern Cape Ladies Amateur Championships to qualify for the world event in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October, but her rise to stardom has been anything but sudden.
Kaiyuree first picked up a plastic set of golf clubs at age four and a year later already played in her first nine-hole tournament.
Fast track a few years and her tally of titles include the US Kids World Teen Championships, US Kids European Championships, 2017 SA Rose Bowl and Gauteng North Championships.
She has represented Gauteng at tournaments since 2015, received SA colours and is currently ranked the country’s second-best junior amateur player and fourth-best open amateur.
With dreams of going professional as a golfer, Kaiyuree hopes to learn as much as she can from the Youth Olympics.
“It is a huge privilege playing for one’s country,” she said.
“I am proudly South African and was born on Freedom Day, 27 April. I look forward to testing my skills with the best in the world. The opportunity to experience another country and a new culture is always a huge plus.”
Kaiyuree said her strengths lie in her short game but she has been working on her accuracy with the driver and long woods.
Her short-term goals are to complete matric and earn a golf scholarship in the United States, where she will study psychology and play college golf.
One day she hopes to make a living by playing the sport she loves.
“I love being outdoors, whether it’s rainy, sunny or windy. I love connecting with nature. No technology. Just talented players, playing golf and keeping it real.
If you know of sports stories you would like published, let us know about them by leaving us a message on Facebook.
Also check out:
Bryanston Country Club celebrates 70th anniversary with ladies golf challenge