Girls do it better
BENMORE– Stephanie Barbaglia is on her way to America for a prestigious golf tournament
Sizzling at just 14 years old is golfer Stephanie Barbaglia. After becoming the first girl to win a Bridge Fund Masters Junior Series, her sites are set on the United States of America.
Stephanie, who lives in Benmore, will be heading to the #BridgeJuniorSeries tournament for the regional final in April this year. The prize is an exciting all-expenses-paid trip to the north and south junior championship in North Carolina, USA. “It’s very nice. I’m very excited to be able to get the chance to learn and go to America.
“Being part of the Bridge Junior Series will give me more confidence, like when I won I definitely gained more confidence. It opens a lot of opportunities.”
She has just returned from a tournament in East London. We can also look forward to her playing in the South African Amateur Open in February this year and the Sunshine Tour taking place in Soweto.
Coming from a very supportive family, Stephanie was prompted to play golf by her older brother.
A learner at the ESCA School Wanderers she has always been sporty.
“I didn’t play golf much, I was more of a dancer and I played tennis, hockey and netball and a lot of other sports. When I was nine my brother was 11 and at the time I saw him going to Scotland and naturally, I was jealous because he was playing all these tournaments and stuff.”
Without a second thought at just nine years old she made a life-changing decision.
“I quit dancing and all the other sports, I wanted my focus to be just on golf. Golf for me was and is very important.”
Through the sport, she got the opportunity to travel which were also some of her highlights.
“Some crowning moments are definitely the travelling because I have been to Scotland in 2016 and 2018 for the European Championship where I won both times.,”
Some of her 2020 goals are to break into the top five of the Golf RSA U19 rankings and the top 10 of the open rankings.
Her future plans include going pro and studying in the USA.
“I’d like to earn my LPGA tour card and become one of the best female golfers of all time.”
When she is winding down and taking it easy she also plays the piano.
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https://staging.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/246731/the-first-ladies-open-of-the-year-at-bryanston-country-club/
https://staging.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/233221/young-girls-flourish-thanks-to-progressive-women-in-golf-programme/
