Mojalefa opens the gates

Mojalefa Xaba won the Eastern Free State Junior Open

The top player from the SA Golf Development Board in the Free State, Mojalefa Xaba from Harrismith Golf Club, is setting new standards for players in the programme. The 17-year old has become the first SAGDB youngster to win a Junior Golf Foundation tournament in the region.

At the recent Eastern Free State Junior Open held at Bethlehem Golf Club, Mojalefa staged an astonishing second day performance that confirmed his enormous potential. Starting the third and final round two shots behind the leaders, he shot a two-under par score of 70, to force a playoff with Theo Potgieter.

"Everybody was so excited to see a playoff like this," said the SAGDB's Free State development manager Ratha Motaung. "A very big crowd went onto the course to watch them. It was like Tiger Woods playing against Phil Mickleson."

Mojalefa excelled under the pressure as he continued his strong play into the three-hole playoff to win it and the event.

"He was very,very excited," Motaung said. "He has been waiting for this moment because he finished second in two of the last three tournaments he played."

His achievement wasn't isolated either. Two other SAGDB players also finished in the top 10. Patrick Seekoei from Bloemfontein Golf Club finished tied for third, three shots back, while fellow Bloemfontein Golf Club player Sello Lebeko, who was co-leader after the second round, finished 9 shots off the pace in seventh.

"Mojalefa has opened the gates for everybody," Motaung said. "Everybody sees that now it is possible that they can win these tournaments. It was good to see."