Kaiyuree Moodley secures top-five finish on return to Fancourt

Rookie golf sensation Kaiyuree Moodley enjoyed a solid return to the venue where she made her professional debut last year, finishing in a three-way tie for fifth at the NTT DATA Ladies’ Pro-Am at Fancourt in George.

The tournament was reduced to 36 holes without a cut due to inclement weather.

Germany’s Celina Sattelkau claimed back-to-back Sunshine Ladies Tour titles with a commanding five-shot victory over compatriot Sophie Witt. South Africa’s Stacy Bregman shared third place with Iceland’s Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir.

Moodley, the 2025 R&A Rookie of the Year, began the final day in a five-way tie for third after an opening round of 71 on The Links at Fancourt. However, a closing 75 in wet and testing conditions saw her finish on level par, alongside fellow South Africans Zane Kleynhans and Caitlyn Macnab.

Sattelkau set up her victory with a flawless six-under-par 67 in Saturday’s opening round, giving her a three-shot lead. She followed up with a 72 on Sunday to seal her second consecutive win, having lifted the SuperSport Ladies Challenge trophy last week.

Moodley enjoyed a breakthrough campaign on the Sunshine Ladies Tour last season, claiming her maiden professional title at the Blu Label Unlimited Ladies Challenge at Sun City in October before securing a dramatic victory at the Auma Ladies Classic at Ebotse Golf and Country Estate in November.

Having navigated the demanding challenge of her rookie year on the Ladies European Tour, Moodley was determined to make a strong start to 2026 on her return to Fancourt – and her top-five finish suggests another promising season lies ahead.