BARELY 20 months after her father Ryan Bekker discovered she had a natural golf swing and bought her own set of girls clubs, 11-year-old Danielle Bekker, has been nothing short of extraordinary in her short budding golf career.
By Munyaradzi Madzokere
Having started as a 36 handicap and now pegged at an astonishing 12 in such a short period, the girl has already competed and proved her mettle in South Africa, Botswana, Malaysia and Scotland, as well as in the United States of America.
Under the tutelage of Cathy Riley at Chapman Golf Club where she is a member, Danielle won her first ladies tournament, the Harare Provincial Strokeplay in July 2013 to open the flood gates for many other accolades to follow.
In August 2013, she came 2nd in the Junior Africa Challenge at Zebula, South Africa, a performance that won her “green status” which meant automatic entry to the Malaysian Open, the European Open & the World Championships.
Only a fortnight ago she took a crack at the ZLGU Open Strokeplay title in the championship division and finished seventh out of 11 contenders.
Standardsport caught up with Danielle’s parents Ryan and Illonka Bekker who spoke about the rise of Danielle as a serious future golf flag bearer for the country.
“My son Jacques and I would play golf a lot, sometimes in Durban, South Africa and Danielle did not really like golf because she said it was a boys’ game so she preferred playing with her dolls. When she started taking interest, I saw something special about her,” said her father.
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“She had often watched them play. Then when her father saw her swing her brother’s clubs he noticed that she had a very natural swing – and a decision was made to buy her a set of girls’ clubs and give her the opportunity to play and develop her golf,” Illonka explained.
“Danielle started playing regularly in early 2013 being coached by Cathy Riley at Chapman and played in her first Junior Daily Tournament in April 2013 off a 36 handicap.
“She played in her first ladies tournament in July 2013 [and won her division] and her first junior major tournament in August 2013,” she added.
The former Gateway School student enjoyed a fruitful debut as a golfer which culminated in her being nominated the 2013 Female Junior Golfer of the Year at the inaugural Zimbabwe golf awards in June this year.
Locally Danielle has bagged at least 11 trophies since she started and her profile internationally has been constantly rising as she is currently second on the SA kids, 11 and 12 years, girls order of merit.
After coming second in the Junior Africa Challenge at Zebula in South Africa, she automatically qualified for the Malaysian Open, the European Open & the World Championships where she acquitted herself very well.
She came second in the European Championships in May 2014 as she led in the first two days, only to drop to second place on the last day.
In July and August 2014 she entered four different competitions and her best result was a 34th place out of 99 in the World Championships played at Pinehurst.
Her father was at a loss for words to explain how she has fallen in love with golf.
“She really loves her golf now. The other time she marvelled at what Nick Price achieved as a golfer from Zimbabwe and she said, ‘daddy, why can’t I do it as well?’ It’s now her dream to one day play in the LPGA and do well for herself and the country,” he said.
Danielle is a staunch admirer of legendary American golfer Phil Mickelson and his putting and chipping prowess, hence her strength in the short game has developed in leaps and bounds.
But what are her short and long term plans in her career? “Danielle’s handicap is currently 12 — she aims to have this at 9 by the end of the year — and then below 5 by the end of 2015.
This will be achieved by constant training — improved core strength — and more focus on her putting and short game,” said Illonka who is now an official with the Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union.
Born on November 15 2002, the number one female junior golfer is also a karateka and when not playing golf she enjoys reading and playing with her dog Rosebud.
One thing for sure is that she is a golf star in the making, but time will tell.
