From park putts to national stages for Maritzburg’s youngest golfer

Maritzburg Golf Club’s youngest player Christelle van Tonder (13) continues to impress on the national junior circuit, most recently competing in the Gauteng North Golf Union’s Junior Girls Open on Sunday. Christelle finished seventh in the ‘B’ Division at the tournament, adding another strong performance to a rapidly growing list of achievements. Her father, Christo van Tonder, said the season has been steady and rewarding.

Golf is a continuous season, and the focus is always on improvement rather than pressure,” Van Tonder said. Christelle’s adventures saw her recently placed third in the under-14 girls category at the All African Junior Championships at San Lameer in August last year, with just six shots separating the top three after three rounds. She also competed in the Golf RSA Champion of Champions at Kloof Country Club, where club champions from across the country went head-to-head.

“She won the ladies bronze division there, which meant she represented KwaZulu-Natal at the national Champions of Champions at Vaal de Grace in Parys,” Van Tonder said. “The KZN team finished second overall.” Christelle was also part of a junior team crowned national champions at the Bidvest National Juniors Race to Steyn City. One of her standout moments came earlier this year when she scored her first hole-in-one at Margate Country Club during a KZN Golf Union juniors tournament.

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“She slam-dunked a seven iron from 95 metres on the 11th hole,” Van Tonder said. Despite competing on big stages, Christelle remains calm under pressure. “She says she doesn’t feel nervous.

For her, it’s just like playing a normal round of golf,” said her father. Training plays a key role in that confidence. Christelle attends private lessons once or twice a week and group sessions with other juniors at Ashley Tarr’s Golf Academy at Golden Horse Village. “It’s all about having fun and doing her best every time she steps onto the course.”

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