Onyadile, the young golfer with a Midas Touch
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday September 1, 2025 06:00
Onyadile has always been close to the golf course after being introduced to the sport at a very early age. She was already holding the golf clubs as early as five years old, and she has never looked back.“My parents introduced me to golf at an early age, at around five. I have played other sports at school, such as football, basketball, tennis, and swimming. My main sports have always been golf and swimming, which I have played (golf) at the club level. At 11 years, in 2022, I represented Botswana at the CANA Zone IV swimming championships in Lusaka, Zambia. In January 2025, I was included in the Swimming High Performance Programme, under the auspices of the Botswana Swimming Sport Association (BSSA),” she explains.
Onyadile says her family has always supported her and provided equipment after she outgrew her kid’s golf club and at one point, she used her mother’s clubs. Onyadile is a beneficiary of the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) Zebra Fund, which enables her to buy equipment and pay the coach.
“I started playing in a major competition with local junior age group competitions from nine years, mostly sponsored by the Nomads and when Botswana Junior League started, I played the monthly league games. From my early competition days and in my age group, I have always been in first place,” Onyadile states. She played her first major competition in 2023 at the age of 12, which was the Delta Junior Championships, held in Gaborone, where she emerged victorious. In August 2023, she played her first major competition outside the country when she competed in the Africa Junior Challenge, which was held in San Lameer Country Club, KwaZulu-Natal, where she continued with her good run, finishing in first position in the 12-year category.
“San Lameer Country Club was good as it was a joint win, as my twin sister, Boipelo, came in third in the same tournament. In the same month, I was part of Team Botswana that played the Ladies Triangular Games between Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. At 12 years old, I was the youngest member of the team,” she says.
Onyaditse reveals that her win in San Lameer boosted her confidence, and she continued to train hard, which saw her defending her crown in 2024, clinching the 13-year age category. Her success was an indication that she had what it takes to compete outside the country.
“I joined Excel Golf Academy based at Blue Tree World of Golf in Gaborone. I spent time learning the basics of golf, how to hold the golf club, and hit a ball before I could even get into the course and play. I developed a love and passion for the sport at the time and worked hard at training. I am a hard worker and I train at every opportunity. I also listen to my coach, Mpho Kelosiwang,” she says.
A Form Two student at Rainbow High School, Onyadile, reveals her ultimate dream is to make it into the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She identifies her role model as Nelly Korda. The American professional golfer plays on the LPGA Tour and is a two-time major winner, claiming victories at both the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship and the 2024 Chevron Championship.
“My main strength is off the Tee, as I hit the driver very long. At the moment, I cannot say I have any challenges. My game is feeling good. It is flush one thing that I need to work on is the mental game,” Onyadile states during the interview. The golfer’s mother, Cecilia, tells MmegiSport that she is elated with her daughter’s achievements, especially about her strong finish. “For me, it is not only about Tuduetso winning the Botswana Ladies Open, it is about how a very young Motswana girl, working with a local coach on a career-first big win, can pull off such a convincing win and beat competition from outside the country. The win marks a turning point in her career, allowing her to go beyond our borders and compete regionally and internationally. This will require sponsorship and support, and we call upon those who can assist to do so,” she says. Cecilia adds that she has watched her daughter grow in the game and witnessed her commitment, passion, and dedication. She says Onyadile is a hardworking and disciplined golfer. For his part, Kelosiwang, who is also the head coach at Excel Golf Academy, says he started working with Onyadile in 2018, as parents wanted to introduce her to golf.
“I cannot claim to have made Tuduetso who she is as a golfer; I just guided her through the process. She is multi-talented in all sports. She is still at a stage where we are still moulding her and letting her discover what type of player she is. She listens, she is inquisitive and likes to know why certain things happen,” he says.
Fact FileFull names: Tuduetso Onyadile
Date of birth: November 26, 2010
Place of birth: Johannesburg
Profession: Amateur Golfer
Club: Gaborone Golf Club and a member of Schoemanpark Golf Club in Bloemfontein
Competitions: Africa Junior Golf Challenge (2023,2024), R&A World Junior Golf (Under 16, 2024), Ciputra Junior World Championship (2025): made a historic ‘Hole in One’ at Hole number 3 at the Damai Indah Golf, PIK Course.