Onyadile, 14, bags Botswana Ladies Open title
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday August 27, 2025 11:41
The 14-year-old received a cash prize of P5, 000 for teeing off competition. However, she missed out on being included in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) by two shorts. The Botswana Ladies Open tournament, which started on Friday and ended on Sunday at the Stanbic Bank Gaborone Golf Club, had attracted players from Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The new champion told Sport Monitor that as part of her preparations, she worked hard with her coach, Mpho Kelosiwang, on her short game, long game and mental strength.
She also worked on physical sessions that enabled her to relax during the tournament.
“The course was in good condition, although the greens were a bit slow but I was able to pat through them.
“I was a scared at the beginning of the tournament, but my plan was to win it because I trusted the process. I had my eyes on the two sisters, Loapi and Maru because they were my biggest threat,” she said.
Onyadile also won the two longest drives on number 10 and 13. Meanwhile, the second position was claimed by Lornah Mwenda from Zambia who pocketed P3, 000, while the 2024 champion, Loapi Chokwe secured the third spot to take home P2, 000 and her sister, Maru finished in position four, and received P1, 500. The junior division winner is Boipelo Onyadile while Thembi Gaetswepe is the winner of the B division after accumulating 87 points and Kate Senye is the champion of the A division.
Botswana Golf Union (BGU) vice president-women, Boipelo Lynda Tshireletso said they witnessed not just a competition but true sportsmanship, resilience and unity.
She said as golfers they carry a unique responsibility, they are not just players but sisters growing up in a movement.
“We can agree that golf is growing especially in the women side, we never had such a big numbers and we did not have juniors. This is a movement that celebrates women in sport, women that break barriers and women that create lasting legacy,” Tshireletso said.
“When we walk in the course, we encourage each other, we share knowledge, raise the standard of the game and I hope we were going that. Let us be supportive to the young girls, they look up to us.”
She said just like as golfers step into the course with a target in mind, even in life they should have a vision and a goal.
Tshireletso encouraged the players that they should know where they are going, be deliberate, take every swing with courage because without an objective life will be like playing golf without a hole to aim for.
The guest speaker, Ouname Mhotsha, Botswana’s first woman tour Pro golfer said Botswana Ladies Open was the last tournament that she won before relocating to the US where she played college golf in the last eight years.
“During college golf days, I participated in 12 tournaments, with three top five finishes and six top ten finishes. As I stand here, I have my eyes set on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics where I will represent Botswana as a professional golfer.
“How I will there, I do not know, all I have is a dream and determination to do the work that is necessary to achieve the dream. My journey has been filled with both challenges and opportunities, it is events like Botswana Ladies Open that reminded me why I should keep pushing boundaries for myself,” she said.
Mhotsha said the tournament is not only about competition, it is about proving that women golf, not only in Botswana but in Africa has potential for growth because it is alive and growing stronger each year.