Golf team swings into action for Africa Youth Games

Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday February 5, 2014 15:13

The selection was completed last week after the South Open Championships in Lobatse. Junior sensation, Leroy Pearmain is in the team with David Masole, Kesentseng Dube, Sipho Abueng, Ketshepaone Molefhe, Walter Seokemong, Dikgang Lemogang, Nabeel Desai and Shane Granger. Mpho Kelosiwang is the team manager.

Speaking to Mmegi Sport yesterday, Kelosiwang said the team trains every weekend.

He said as part of preparations, the national team would participate in the Northern  and the North West Open in South Africa in March. Pearmain, Granger and Desai are scheduled to play in the South Africa Amateur on February 23-28 depending on how well they perform.

'We want to make sure that when the time for the competition arrives, all players would have reduced their handicaps and improved all aspect of their game. For you to be a competitive player in the Zone VI, you should have at least handicap two.  If players can lower their handicap to zero, it is an indication of improvement. A handicap indicates capability of a player,' he said.

Kelosiwang indicated that some of the players like Pearmain are already on handicap zero and he has been set a target to lower handicap to negative two while the rest of the squad has been told to follow suit. Kelosiwang said BGU is serious about the targets. He said they are preparing the junior team for the Zone Six tournament in Zambian in April and the Africa Youth Games in May.

The women team, which is preparing for a competition in Kenya is expected to be part of the camps. Kelosiwang said BGU would provide all the resources to improve the performance of the players and make them competitive. He stated that the intention is to do better in international competitions. He said the best the country has done in the Zone Six competition is position five and now with intensive preparations, things should change for the better.