GolfRSA’s rising stars head to Europe for prestigious Junior golf events

JOHANNESBURG, 14 July 2025 – A strong contingent of GolfRSA National Squad members will be flying the South African flag high as they compete in three prestigious international events in the coming weeks – the Junior Dutch Open in the Netherlands, the European Juniors International and R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship in Germany and Wales.

Six top juniors – Lisa Coetzer, Dewan de Bruin, Kesha Louw, Dian Kruger, Olivia Wood and Roelof Craig – will represent South Africa at the Junior Dutch Open, taking place at Golf Club Toxandria in the south of the Netherlands from 16 to 19 July. The event is a 72-hole stroke play championship played over four consecutive days, with boys and girls competing in separate divisions.

“We are proud to see our juniors earning the opportunity to compete on the global stage,” said Grant Hepburn, CEO of GolfRSA. “International competition is vital for the development of young players. It gives them invaluable experience against top global talent, in different playing conditions and under pressure – all of which are key to their long-term success.”

The Junior Dutch Open marks a special milestone for Olivia Wood, who will officially earn her Protea colours, having narrowly missed out on selection in previous national assignments this year.

Following that, Women’s Golf South Africa (WGSA) will send Coetzer, Lourenda Steyn, Casey Twidale and Maegan Webster to Germany in August to compete on the Global Junior Golf Tour in Berlin and in the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship in Conwy.

The quartet will tee it up in the European Juniors International 2025 at Golfpark Weiherhof from 8 to 11 August, competing in both the overall leaderboard and individual age categories (U14, U16, U18 and U23).

The team then heads to Conwy Golf Club in Wales, a championship links course nestled on the stunning North Wales coastline for the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship, one of the most prestigious junior titles in the world.

First played in 1919, the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship boasts a legacy of launching major champions and Solheim Cup players. Past winners include Anna Nordqvist, Suzann Pettersen, Azahara Muñoz, Georgia Hall and Pia Babnik, who won in 2019 before claiming victory on the Ladies European Tour.

The R&A Girls’ Amateur champion receives a number of prestigious exemptions, including starts in the Women’s Amateur Championship, US Girls’ Junior Championship, Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open, and traditionally, an invite to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.

“Both championships offers an incredible opportunity – not just for World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points – but for experience, learning and exposure at the highest junior level,” said WGSA President Susan Andrew, who will accompany the team.

“The international stage challenges our players in ways that prepare them for collegiate and professional golf. We’re also thrilled to see two more GolfRSA National Squad members Kaytlin van de Vyver and Kaylee Webster, sister of Maegan Webster, competing as independent entries. Kaytlin will join us in Germany and Kaylee joins the field in the R&A Girls’ Amateur.”

GolfRSA wishes all our players the best of luck as they take on Europe’s best juniors and continue their journey toward excellence.