Moloi wins July Mug in historic victory
NTHAKO MAJORO
MASERU – In a spectacular display of skill and determination, Anna Moloi clinched her first Monthly Mug title at the Maseru Golf Club last Sunday, marking a historic achievement in her golfing career.
Moloi triumphed in the July Monthly Mug Golf Tournament with an impressive net score of 65, outshining her competitors. Vivian Mo secured the runner-up position with a net 66, while Puseletso Putsoane and Nyakallo Nduule rounded out the top four with net scores of 67.
Notably, all four top finishers were female golfers, with former champion, Masuhla Leteka finishing fifth with a net 70. This victory was particularly significant for Moloi, who was competing in her first Monthly Mug Tournament of the year.
Her high handicap of 25 played a crucial role in her success, giving her an advantage over her competitors, especially the male golfers with lower handicaps.
“My current handicap is 25. It has been up and down, as you know that sometimes you will be good and sometimes not,” Moloi explained in an interview with Public Eye after the match.
She revealed that her handicap had once been as low as 15 but had increased due to a prolonged period of illness that kept her away from the sport.
“It was affected by circumstances. It was once 15, down to 19, and now 25. This happened during the period when I was not well,” she said. “Like I said, I was on a medical period for a long time.”
Despite these challenges, Moloi credited her focused approach for her victory. “I have tried to be much more focused even though I missed a lot of pars, and I think I would have come out with a better score,” she reflected. “But it is what it is. I have managed to get 65.”
The competitive environment of the tournament played a significant role in Moloi’s success. She praised the quality of her playing group, saying: “It was good, as you were playing with four-balls, and in my four-balls we were playing well.”
She also highlighted the motivational support from last month’s winner, Itumeleng Khubetsoana, as a key factor in her performance.
“Some of the ladies have mentioned in the morning that one female golfer, Itumeleng Khubetsoana, has sent them motivation for the day, telling them they are going to win,” she said. “So I have just decided that let me also motivate the ladies for this year (by winning the competition), and I am very happy because I have been selected as a ladies captain for two years (term), and so I am super proud of the ladies.”
Khubetsoana finished in 11th place with a net score of 75. The July Mug Tournament saw participation from 44 golfers, including 34 men and 10 women. Among the female golfers, four managed to secure top-ten finishes, showcasing their growing dominance in the sport.
Moloi used her victory as an opportunity to encourage more women to take up golf. “I would say it is about time that women start playing golf. Most of them used to be reluctant because, for a long time, golf had been a male-dominated game,” she stated.
“But now that a new committee has taken over, we are trying by all means to make sure that we bring motivation to them, as well as trying to meet them halfway.” She emphasised the new leadership’s commitment to supporting female golfers at the club.
“We want to push the development of women and children more than anything else,” she said, highlighting the historical perception of golf as a male-dominated sport.
“It was just a tradition. But that has since changed, and women are starting to play golf. Like today, women’s dominance is an indication that they too can play golf and that it is not meant for only men.”
Moloi started playing golf in 2019 but had limited participation in the Monthly Mug Tournament due to work commitments.
“I usually play the Cooperate Challenge because it doesn’t weigh on me,” she explained. She began competing in the Monthly Mug in 2021, finding it more challenging compared to the Cooperate Challenge.
“For example, when competing at the Mug, you must hit the ball until it is holing in. But in other competitions, it is teamwork. If you cannot hole in, you can still depend on your teammates,” she said.
The Monthly Mug Golf Tournament is a staple event at the Maseru Golf Club, held on the first Sunday of every month. However, the July Monthly Mug was postponed to the second Sunday due to cold weather conditions, among other factors.
Moloi’s victory is a demonstration of her resilience and dedication to the sport. Her historic win at the July Monthly Mug not only highlights her personal achievement but also underscores the growing presence and success of female golfers in Lesotho. As the new ladies’ captain, Moloi’s leadership and inspiration are set to drive greater participation and enthusiasm for golf among women and children at the Maseru Golf Club.
