5 KeNako Academy students have been selected for the South African National Squad, with recently departed Cameron Moralee being the sixth KeNako student in that squad. This is an amazing achievement! Congratulations to all of Andre Nel, Jade Buitendag, Franklin Manchest, Hayden Garcia, Sentanio Minnie and Cameron Moralee on this fine achievement.
KeNako Academy is very proud of Jade Buitendag and Andre Nel who both represented South Africa in 2015 and who received exemption as leading South African amateurs to play in the BMW SA Open at Glendower earlier this month. Cameron Moralee, another KeNako player, pre-qualified amongst the professionals to obtain his place in the field. Cameron was subsequently the only Amateur to make the cut, winning the prestigious Freddie Tait Trophy! An accomplishment of the highest order!
Frankie Manchest did KeNako proud by winning the opening National Junior event of 2016, the Coastal NOOM played at Umhloti in KwaZulu Natal. Franklin won by 4 shots, playing some excellent golf with rounds of 72, 71 & 70 for a 54 hole total of 213. Fellow academy student Caylum Boon finished 9th. Both Frankie and Caylum were part of the victorious Southern Cape U19 IPT team that enjoyed a historic victory in South Africa’s premier U19 team event played mid-December in Worcester.
Over the last week KeNako have welcomed a number of exciting local and International talents to the Academy. KeNako Academy is currently hosting 17 international students from 7 different countries of the world.
15 year old Klara Wildhaber arrived in South Africa last weekend to join the academy program. Klara is a leftie and a serious talent and she has recently been selected to represent Switzerland for the first time. Klara is a full time Academy student and attends Rundle College.
Azelia Meichtry has returned to KeNako Academy and Rundle College from Switzerland, with her recent 2nd place in the Global Junior tournament played at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina her latest achievement. Azelia won a place in the tournament after winning the World Junior Tournament at Durbanville in 2015.
Vera Raguth, another Swiss golfer is spending 3 months at the Academy. Vera is ranked no. 14 in Switzerland and she is hoping to improve her game whilst training at the Academy during the winter months in her home town. She is joined by Robert Foley and Valérian Huelin amongst others.
It is equally exciting for Rundle College where the school going students are educated. Cambridge International Education has been a crucial element of this development. The different cultures, attitudes and work ethics enhance the quality of the academy programme and the school.
Another exciting achievement is that Andre Nel was ranked No. 1 Amateur in 2015 according to Golf Digest. Hard work always pays off and Andre has most certainly put the time and energy into his game! He joined KeNako Academy for the School Leaver Program in January 2014 ranked No.89!
It is also very rewarding to welcome ‘local boy’ Sentanio Minnie to KeNako Academy. Sentanio was previously a student at the Tuks High Performance Centre in Pretoria. He is a quality young golfer who will add further quality to golf at both the KeNako Academy and in the Southern Cape.
KeNako Academy is looking forward to enjoying another outstanding year and to making a positive contribution not only to golf but to the Southern Cape region.
