Johannesburg, South Africa. March 2018 – In the spirit of inclusion that characterises the Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open, aspiring young deaf golfers from the South African Disabled Golf Association’s (SADGA) First Swing Program (FSP), will have the opportunity to play in this year’s tournament in May.
One of the young golfers selected to play in the 2018 Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open is Moloko Arlaat, a Grade 8 learner from St Vincents School for the Deaf in Gauteng who came second in the IPT Elite division at the Canon First Swing Program Deaf Junior IPTs in December 2017.
A member at Zwartkop Country Club and boasting an impressive 36 handicap, Moloko is certainly one to watch at the 2018 Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open which takes place at Magalies Park Golf Club from 13 to 18 May. This will be the first time that Moloko will be competing in the tournament. She recently had the opportunity to play in the Canon Ladies Tshwane Open, part of the Sunshine Ladies Tour, where she revelled at rubbing shoulders and meeting a few professional lady golfers.
A learner at St Vincent’s School, Moloko has always had an interest in golf. Her dad is a keen golfer and she wanted to follow in his footsteps. When she got the opportunity, she grabbed it with both hands and has been doing great things ever since. “With the support she gets from her Coach, Andrew Corthing and the rest of her team, the sky is the limit for her. She wants to play professionally one day and I am confident she will reach her dreams. Moloko is ever grateful for the support she gets from her coach,” says her mother, Mapula.
According to her mother, it was discovered that Moloko was deaf when she was two years old. She has navigated the challenges with grace and it has no way hindered her in living life to its fullest. She enjoys swimming and dancing, and performs very well at school. “She is a very intelligent girl and very focused. You can see even in her school work, she strives to be the best she can be. She has always been in the top position as she has moved through her Grades. She is always eager to learn new things. There is a bright future ahead for her; perhaps a top professional golfer one day.”
In addition to Moloko, several other young deaf golfers have qualified to compete in the Canon SA Disabled Golf Open this year. Also from St Vincent’s School are Kwazi Mahlangu, Mpho Tlhatlha and Wilfred De Bruin.
These youngsters have been playing regularly in the Provincial Golf Days organised by SADGA. For Mpho and Wilfred it will be the second time that they will play in the tournament, having participated in last year’s Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open.
Four rookies will be getting their chance to shine at the Open. They played in the Canon FSP Deaf Junior IPTs in December 2017 and qualified via the SADGA FSP Go for Gold program to get a golf handicap, membership to a club and now they get to play in the Open.
They are:
Usher Manel from Reubin Birin in Port Elizabeth with coaches Tyler Best and Sean Lottering at Port Elizabeth Golf Club;
Sandile Shange and Thembelani Mweli from Kwanthintwa School in KwaZulu-Natal with coach Anton Steyn from Cato Ridge Golf Club, and
Karel Mars from Dominican in Cape Town with coaches Charles Williams and Daren Hanekom who are training to be PGA coaches through the SADGA Academy, headed by National Coach Andrew Corthing.
Canon South Africa is the proud sponsor the prestigious Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open in 2018, 2019 and 2020. This comes on the back of Canon South Africa’s successful, inaugural sponsorship of the 19th annual edition of the tournament which took place in Cape Town in May 2017.
Hosted annually by SADGA, the South African Disabled Golf Open attracts the world’s top golfers with disabilities, offering them a platform to compete against some of the best players in the world.
For more information please visit www.canon.co.za or follow Canon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn
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