Namibia Golf Federation (NGF) secretary general Brenda Lens has praised the national team for their commendable performance at the just-concluded African Amateur Golf Tournament in South Africa. 

Namibia sent golfers Walter Kheibeb, Stephanus Bonifatius, Kyle Johnson, Edwin Katura and Likius Nande to the tournament. 

However, only two managed to make the final cut. Nande finished in 68th place, while promising young golfer Johnson secured an impressive 21st-place finish. 

Reacting to the results yesterday, Lens expressed satisfaction with the two players finishing in the top 72. 

She called it a huge milestone for Namibian golf. 

She highlighted how the performance shows the growth of golf in the country over the past few years. 

“On behalf of the NGF, we want to thank the R&A for this beautiful initiative, and Johan Rupert for making Leopard Creek Golf Course available. Well done to both Kyle, who is still a junior, and Likius for making the cut,” Lens said. 

The African Amateur Golf Tournament is part of the R&A’s global strategy to provide a world-class platform for promising African golfers. 

Lens stressed the importance of such competitions in developing golfers. 

“This tournament is crucial for development. It exposes our players to new experiences, allows them to connect with scouts, and offers them opportunities to network with golfers from across the continent,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Johnson, who finished 21st, shared his experience. 

He said the tournament was a great learning opportunity. 

“I’m happy to have made the top 72 cut. This was a major highlight for me. It showed us what we need to improve, going forward. 

“Experiencing golf at this level has been eye-opening. I’m grateful to the NGF for supporting us, and investing in our participation. We’ll make sure to come back even stronger next year,” he remarked. 

– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na