Staff WriterKaiyuree Moodley is making waves on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, and by her fourth professional start, she’s already turning heads in South Africa’s golfing circles.
In the 54‐hole Platinum Ladies Open at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate, where a R1,000,000 purse is at stake, the 23‐year‐old is hot on the trail for The R&A Rookie of the Year award.
Kaiyuree Moodley’s rise has been nothing short of brilliant. Coming off a runner-up finish at the SuperSport Ladies Challenge and a tied-third result at the Jabra Ladies Classic — where she not only led the opening round but also shot her career-best score of six-under-par 66 — she’s showing that hard work and raw talent can push boundaries and turn heads.
“It was only my third event as a professional, so it felt really good to shoot my lowest professional score. Everything in my game was fantastic,” she said.
With only four weeks and half of the season’s eight tournaments left, the Rookie of the Year race is heating up.
France’s Lucie Malchirand, fresh from her Standard Bank Ladies Open triumph, currently tops the standings, with Scotland’s Lorna McClymont not far behind.
Reflecting on her family roots in the sport, McClymont shared, “I got into golf when I was younger and my brother played.
He was getting lessons at the time. So my mom and dad thought, let’s get Lorna lessons as well and that is kind of my story. My grandparents played as well so it has just been in the family.”
Adding to the excitement is a formidable field that includes Nadia van der Westhuizen—the recent winner of the SuperSport Ladies Challenge; Casandra Alexander, the Jabra Ladies Classic victor; and Danielle du Toit, who clinched her first title at the NTT DATA Ladies Pro-Am.
Kaiyuree Moodley isn’t just stepping onto the golf course—she’s turning the game on its head with a fresh, fearless approach.
With every swing and every putt, she’s proving that rookies can not only keep up but truly shine.
As the tournament unfolds, everyone is watching, eager to see if she can sustain this remarkable momentum.
There’s an unmistakable authenticity in the way she plays, drawing admiration and attention from fans and peers alike.
