POLOKWANE – The laid-back city of Polokwane is abuzz. The buzz comes courtesy of the Limpopo Province’s two young golfing talents, Lameez Boughan and William Baloyi.

Lameez has set her sights very high indeed, which is very inspiring in so young a woman. At 16, she knows exactly where her future is headed – the greatest greens the world has to offer. On July 31, Lameez walked away as overall winner of the Ladies Open Golf Tournament hosted by the Soutpansberg Golf Club in Makhado (Louis Trichardt).

She was introduced to golf by her father three years ago and has already achieved a handicap of eight with a projected one of seven. Her father and brother also play with handicaps of two and five respectively.

Even though she has other sporting interests, such as tennis, cricket, hockey and athletics, Lameez strongly believes that golf has had a great impact on her schooling. Her involvement with the sport has led to her schoolwork’s improving, due to her passion.

Lameez is a great fan of Retief Goosen, who also hails from the Limpopo Province and used to play on the same golf course, the Polokwane Golf Course. Her future aspirations include finishing her schooling career and then attending a golf academy in the United States of America, for which she needs to win a scholarship.

William’s is also an inspiring story - that of a young golfer who lives three minutes from the golf course. It is in fact two stories in one.

The first one is the story of what can happen when raw talent is converted into a skill geared only for success. The second story is the one of sacrifice brought on by parental love and guidance.

William was a karateka, but due to endless injuries, his father, Eddie Baloyi, a keen golfer himself, suggested a switch in sports, with remarkable results. After playing golf for a mere three and half years and reaching a handicap that stands at a spectacularly +1 in two years, William’s talent is clearly noticeable. He has even been selected for the provincial U/23 side.

William himself is the first to admit that, “I am on the course everyday from 10:00 until 18:00,” which shows the sort of dedication that also saw his studies in building science almost suffer, prompting his father to decide that the “boy should take time off from school and focus more on this golf thing.”

The only thing missing to fine-tune his skill and guarantee his success is some financial assistance. In order to move his golf to the next level and clear the way to success, William must undergo formal tuition in Johannesburg. However, this formal education comes at a high cost of R46 000.

The two youngsters will take part at the 2004 Limpopo Eskom Classic, which takes place at Polokwane Golf Club from 14 to 16 October. This 54-hole event offers prize money of R500 000, sponsored by Eskom and the Municipality of Polokwane, Trade and Investment Limpopo and Limdev (Limpopo Economic Development Enterprise).