MASERU — Lesotho’s only professional golfer, Motlalentoa Moloi, is making frantic efforts to play at next week’s Lombard Insurance Classic golf tournament in Swaziland.
The tournament, to be played at the Royal Swazi Sun Country Club, is part of the Sunshine Tour, a professional men’s tour based in southern Africa.
Moloi this week said he hoped to compete at the tournament after failing to take part in another Sunshine Tour event last week — the Vodacom Business Origins of Golf Tour in Pretoria — due to a lack of funds.
“I am saving up so that I can take my place at the tournament next week,” Moloi said. “I hope to be there.”
Lack of sponsorship has meant Moloi has only played in three of the 12 tour events that have taken place so far this year — January’s Africa Open in East London, April’s Vodacom Business Origins of Golf Tour event in Bloemfontein and the SAA Pro-Am Invitational held in Durban last month.
“It’s disappointing that the association (Lesotho Golf Association) has not gone out of their way to help me find sponsors,” he said.
With the direct costs of attending a tournament — travel, accommodation, caddie fees and meals — averaging at least M4 000, Moloi has found it hard to afford the demands of the professional tour.
“I will leave on Monday, but I have not found accommodation as yet,” Moloi said. “The most important thing is to be ready mentally for the tournament.”
Before Moloi can compete in the main draw he will first have to win his place through a pre-qualifier next Wednesday along with 149 others hopefuls.