Kyra van Kan’s month of love continued as she made it a hat trick of February wins with a commanding nine-stroke victory in the inaugural Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational.
Having swept to runaway victories in the South African Stroke Play Championship and the inaugural GolfRSA International Amateur Championship on the GolfRSA South African Swing earlier in the month, Van Kan sealed her third title in three weeks with a wire-to-wire victory over 54 holes at Leopard Creek Country Club.
“I’m seriously overwhelmed, it’s such an amazing feeling,” the 18-year-old Van Kan said when asked about how it felt to be the first champion of the new R&A-run event.
“Finishing here on such a prestigious golf course, I’m really honoured to have played golf in front of Mr [Johann] Rupert, The R&A and GolfRSA. It’s just incredible, this feeling. I’m really honoured to have my name on that trophy.
“This is something that I don’t think I’ll forget until I’m like 90. I think I’ll always cherish this moment. The R&A has made this moment feel so special and I’m forever grateful for that.”
The Gauteng North golfer opened with a round of level-par 72 for a three-stroke lead and following it up with rounds of 71 and 72 to finish as the only player under par, ensured the Africa Women’s Invitational would be added to an already bulging trophy cabinet.
“I have to admit that I felt more nervous this morning than finishing up” Van Kan said. “You know, anything can happen, especially around Leopard Creek. You have to play seriously good golf. You don’t usually shoot a really low one on the last day, so I decided I would play boring golf and let everyone try and catch me.”
The solid strategy that paid off for Van Kan.
Fellow GolfRSA National Squad members Bobbi Brown and reigning South African Women’s Amateur champion Gia Raad finished second and third on eight over and nine over respectively. Chanelle Mwangi from Kenya finished a further two strokes back in fourth, and Kaiyuree Moodley rounded out the top five on 12 over.
Van Kan spent much of 2023 away from the game to concentrate on her studies in her final school year and will soon head to the USA to take up a golf scholarship at the University of Tennessee.
With the win, the former GolfRSA No 1 earned starts in The Women’s Amateur Championship, Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open and the Investec South African Women’s Open in 2024, as well as in the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Meryem Cup and Magical Kenya Ladies Open in 2025.
These invites will provide a major boost to a very promising career. “I’m really excited for these opportunities,” said Van Kan, last year’s leafing amateur in the Investec South African Women’s Open.
“To be able to go over to the UK and try and get into the AIG Women’s Open is just fabulous. I’m into the South African Women’s Open, which will be in Cape Town at Erinvale. I played in it last year, so I was really hoping to play it again this year, so I’m so excited. It’s always a privilege to be playing in special events. I can’t thank The R&A and GolfRSA enough.”
Photo: GolfRSA
