Danielle Bekker has once again proven herself to be a Zimbabwean golfer of note on the international scene. Bekker earned an impressive third place in her girls 11-13 year old age group at the Optimist International Junior Golf Tournament of Champions in Florida this past weekend (7-8 November 2015).
Bekker, who turns thirteen this month, finished the two-day tournament held at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida with 159 strokes for 15 over par. On Day 1, Bekker registered 80 strokes or 8 over par, and brought that down by a stroke to 79 on Sunday, Round 2 of the tournament where she was 7 over par.
Yae Eun Kim of the Dominican Republic won the 11-13 girls age group with an impressive 142 strokes, one under par. Alexo Pano of host state Florida came second with 145. By finishing in the top five, Bekker is exempt from having to qualify for the summer 2016 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Bekker, formerly a student at Gateway Primary School, is now home schooled as she pursues a rigorous training and tournament schedule. She finished sixth at the Africa Junior Girls Golf Championships in Kenya in August this year, and was named Zimbabwe’s Female Junior Golfer of the Year for 2015 after winning the Lion of Africa Junior Africa Challenge in South Africa in September.