Phenyo Sebata has a thing for R&B, and she adores Serena Williams.

The young golfer relates to Williams’ story of triumphing over adversity and admires her strong character. The R&B, of course, relaxes her.

Just 16, Sebata is hoping to craft an inspiring narrative of her own, one that includes elements of hard work, raw talent and a single working mother who helps nourish her ambition.

South Africa’s 12th-ranked junior had nine top-10 finishes in 2024, including two wins, to give stark notice of her rich promise.

“Her focus is so good,” says her mom Tebogo, a league player and member of the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) who years ago had her two daughters tag along to the course to ensure she spent more time with them. Mogomotsi, her eldest, got most of the attention on account of her age and ability.

Mogomotsi was regularly praised by fellow golfers, while Phenyo, three at the time, quietly did her thing. Privately, she admitted to her mom years later, the unequal praise riled her. But it also drove her to prove that she, too, had a knack for golf. She also deserved high fives and compliments.

The girls were playing and practising at the World of Golf in Johannesburg where Phenyo began to contest SA Kids Golf tournaments, even though at her young age there was no grouping. She had to play with the under-sixes. Unsurprisingly, she thrived.

Phenyo soon graduated to private lessons at the World of Golf, but after outgrowing these, she paired up with a golf tutor, Nathan Maluleke, a retired caddie, at Zwartkops. He had a profound impact on her game and the family was delighted.

Sadly, this partnership ended when Maluleke unexpectedly passed away, leading to Phenyo relocating in 2019 to the McKenna Performance Academy at Silver Lakes, where she now hones her game under Xander Basson.

“I’m happy with her progress,” says Tebogo, who praises Basson for taking Phenyo’s game to another level. “It’s slow, but it’s solid.”

Injury and the intrusion of school studies have curtailed Phenyo’s trajectory, but there is a shared sense that balance is vital and necessary. No one is rushing; there is no need when you are playing the long game.

“Luckily, we learned from Nathan and he made me aware that it was all about Phenyo’s golf, not mine,” says Tebogo, mindful of the need to nurture without being overbearing.

Part of this nurturing requires Phenyo’s education through the Cambridge system rather than traditional schooling as it is more flexible and focuses on critical thinking and problem-solving, qualities that could also prove helpful in her chosen sport.

“I know her poor shots aren’t on purpose, and it was difficult in the early stages to process this. I had to push but be cautious,” said her mother, who continues to carry and cart in the manner of all conscientious parents.

She believes that Phenyo didn’t play enough last year and wants her to up her output this year while shaping up on her studies. Fortunately, the one drives the other and Phenyo seems to thrive when she has the twin stresses of golf and schooling to worry about.

The starlet is grateful to her mum for effectively shelving her game to allow hers to flourish.

“I started when I was three and haven’t put my clubs down since then,” she says in the manner of a typically giggly, happy 16-year-old.

A GolfRSA National Squad member, her best achievement came in 2022 when she won her first national title by a single shot in the B-Division of the Nomads SA Girls Championship, one of two flagship events for girls her age.

Now playing out of Centurion Country Club, she has her mind firmly set on a US golf scholarship where she hopes to study mathematics or accounting.

For now, though, her focus is on self-improvement. There are parts of her game she wants to polish, plus she wants to get her volume up.

The signs are promising. She signed off last year with a third-place finish at the Gauteng North Golf Union All Amateur Series, and began 2025 with a second place in round two of the series.

“It’s a big year,” she says. “I’ll try to play as much as I can and also focus on my studies towards the finals.”

These are exciting times for the aspirant. With her dedicated mum in the corner and a game that can hold its own, Sebata is well placed to make her move in a manner even Serena Williams would approve of.

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