GOLFRSA SQUAD WATCH
A new
DESTINY
Samantha Whateley is flourishing on the US College circuit
Christiaan Maas’ all-encompassing love for the game is also to the benefit of those who have the privilege of watching him
play
BY CLINTON VAN DER BERG
Before Samantha Whateley ever swung a club, her destiny was already being shaped. Her father had bought her plastic golf clubs before she was born. Her mother played while pregnant. Golf wasn’t just introduced to her, it was embedded in her DNA.
‘It was kind of inevitable,’ Whateley says with a laugh, recalling how she started playing properly at age nine at local kids’ tournaments. ‘I’ve always loved sport, but golf was my favourite. It took preference after a while.’
Now 20, Whateley is a rising star at Mississippi State University, where she’s balancing a psychology degree with a golf career that’s gaining serious traction. Her journey from Sandton’s suburban fairways to the manicured greens of the US college circuit is one marked by grit, growth and a quiet fire that burns beneath her calm demeanour.
‘I’ve worked a lot on being patient and having acceptance. Mistakes will come, but so will birdies’
CHIP SHOTS
Favourite food:
Sushi
Favourite course:
Pebble Beach. We are so lucky to have the opportunity to play that as our first event every season. It’s next-level stuff. It’s just impossible to get mad there because you look up and it’s the ocean or cliffs. It’s so beautiful.
Dream course?
Augusta National.
Most famous person met:
Annika Sörenstam.
Best place visited:
Portland, Oregon.
Who is the GOAT?
Nelly Korda
‘I’m still adjusting,’ she admits. ‘It’s like going from being the big fish in a small pond to the small fish in a big pond. Everyone here is good enough to play college golf, so the standard is a lot higher.’
But Whateley isn’t one to flinch. She’s already made her mark, winning the North Carolina Women’s Amateur Championship with a final-round 66 that turned heads and silenced doubts. ‘It kind of proved to me that I’m meant to be here,’ she says. ‘It solidified my confidence that I can deal with high-pressure situations and pull it off.’
Her game is built on precision.
‘My ball striking and accuracy are my strengths,’ she says. ‘Most of the time I know I’m going to hit the ball on the line I’m aiming for.’
Fairways are her domain, and she’s working hard to sharpen her putting. ‘I’d love to make a couple more birdie putts here and there.’
Gallery below
But Whateley’s edge isn’t just technical, it’s psychological. She’s studying psychology with the aim of specialising in sport psychology, a field she’s already applying to her game.
‘When I was younger, fear was the main emotion that showed up on the course,’ she reflects. ‘If you’re scared to hit the ball in the water, it’s likely going to go in the water. I’ve worked a lot on being patient and having acceptance. Mistakes will come, but so will birdies.’
That mindset has been shaped by years of competition and mentorship. She credits fellow South African golfers like Kaleigh Telfer and Symone Henriques for introducing her to the idea of college golf and helping her navigate the process. ‘They gave me the right tips and tricks, especially coming from a different country,’ she says. ‘It’s a bit more difficult getting that exposure.’
Whateley’s family has been a constant source of support. Her father, Scott, often caddies for her, and her family’s recent move to Charlotte, North Carolina, has added a new layer to her US experience.
Gallery below
‘South Africa is always home,’ she says, ‘but that’s where I go now.’
Her goals are clear and ambitious. ‘One of my biggest goals is to qualify for the Augusta Women’s Amateur,’ she says. ‘A couple of South African girls have played there, so I know it’s possible.’
She’s also eyeing a future in professional golf, and college competition is already giving her a taste of that level. ‘If professional is how you want to go, you’re basically already competing against them.’
Off the course, she’s also a competitor. ‘Me and my roommate play tennis or pickleball on off days. We’ll find any way to be competitive,’ she laughs. But she also knows how to unwind. ‘I like to listen to music a lot, whether I’m practicing or just chilling.’
‘Find ways to have fun. There’s no point wasting your life on something you don’t enjoy’
Her advice to young golfers is refreshingly honest. ‘You’re not going to be amazing in the beginning,’ she says. ‘Golf is very much a case of the time you put in is what you’ll get out. Stay patient, stick to it and find ways to have fun. There’s no point wasting your life on something you don’t enjoy.’
Her role model? Kaleigh Telfer.
‘She’s very good, but apart from that, she’s humble, always willing to help and is funny. She introduced me to college golf and has always been one of my biggest inspirations.’
And the best advice she’s ever received? It came from her grandfather. ‘He always told me, “Just make sure you’re having fun.” I carry that with me every time I play.’
Whateley is not just chasing birdies, she’s chasing meaning, mastery and a future that looks as bright as the greens she walks. With her feet firmly planted and her eyes set on the horizon, she’s a golfer to watch, a mind to admire and a fun story still unfolding.
DARREN CARROLL/USGA/MISSISSIPPI STATE ATHLETICS/FACEBOOK/TROY WINFIELD/SUNSHINE TOUR/TRISTAN JONES/LET/CAROLINAS GOLF ASSOCIATION
