Wilmari Woest's flawless year in Namibian amateur golf

Golf
Woest achieved the extraordinary by dominating every tournament she entered.
Mariud Ngula
  • 4 Days Ago
Omeya Golf Club’s Wilmari Woest has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in Namibia’s amateur golf scene.

Backing this up is her flawless string of national titles accumulated throughout the year, reigning supreme in every national competition she participated in.

Woest’s most recent achievement was securing the women’s overall title at the Rossmund Open earlier this month, marking a perfect streak of back-to-back wins heading into the off-season.

Her golden streak began with clinching the Central Open in March, followed by triumphs at the Swakopmund Open in April, the Namibian Open in May, and a dominant performance at the Windhoek Open in October.

Speaking about her most recent win at Rossmund, Woest remained humble, acknowledging the strength of her competitors on the green. “Winning the overall title was humbling, considering the number of good players I went up against,” she said.

While she didn’t participate in the Coastal Open, her flawless record in every event she entered speaks volumes about her standard of excellence.



Nurtured from childhood

Behind her success lies a passion for the sport, nurtured from her childhood days on the golf course with her father, Schalk Walters.

“Growing up, I went to the course with my father a lot during weekends. In 2018, I met my husband Pieter, a former golf professional in South Africa. To spend more time with him, we started playing together, and he became my coach and mentor,” Woest said.

Regarding the demands of competitive golf, she admitted it is no easy feat. “Focusing more on the excitement and joy of the game keeps me going,” she noted.

When asked about challenging moments during tournaments, Woest lamented the scorching sun and credited her resilience to staying hydrated and keeping her energy levels up.

As the year comes to an end, Woest plans to pack away her clubs and spend quality time with her family. Her message to aspiring golfers is: “Focus on having fun and not the results!”



Sharing the spotlight

Sharing the spotlight with Woest at the Rossmund Open was Henry Mudge from Tsumeb Golf Club, who claimed the men’s overall title.

For Mudge, the victory was a significant moment in a season marked by close finishes and invaluable lessons. “To pull one through to cap off my season was a good feeling. Overall, I am happy with the season and looking forward to the next one.”

Mudge’s golfing season also saw triumphs at the Mossel Bay Golf Club Championship in September and November’s Windhoek Golf Club Championships.

Acknowledging his biggest supporters, he gave a special mention to his dad and namesake, as well as his coaching team from Wanna Be A Champion.

“They have supported me through the good and bad weeks. My coaching team, Nicole Loesch and Val Holland have always believed in me and gave their all to help me get to the top,” he said.

Mudge will dedicate the off-season to fine-tuning his skills in preparation for next year’s competitions.

- mariud@nsh.com.na