A Bloemfontein-based player has earned his stripes by achieving a remarkable feat at the 2023 Footgolf World Cup tournament staged in Florida, America. He became South Africa\u2019s highest-ranking international player, of both men and women, to represent the country at this tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pitsi Molebatsi was part of the team participating in the world cup for the very first time, under the auspices of FootGolf South Africa (FGSA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event was held from 26 May to 6 June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Molebatsi secured a world ranking of T411. This achievement also makes him the highest-ranking player from the African continent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He finished as the national team\u2019s highest scorer overall, with +8 points in the tournament\u2019s men\u2019s category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis was also a historical moment for me. I started poorly in the tournament as I thought it was going to be easy to be in the top 20 based on my preparations, and the fact that I had won the Footgolf Pro-am Tournament held at the Serengeti Golf Estate,\u201d says Molebatsi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had to readjust my mindset immediately after that, and I reminded myself that I am only as good as my last putt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think I recovered well after that, as my score was +9 at the end of round 1. I scored +1 in 15 holes, which was a great recovery after a poor start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor rounds 2 and 3 I scored -3, and in the final round I scored +5, which earned me a total score of +8.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former U23 men\u2019s football star says the experience he gained during his maiden world cup will stand him in good stead for future competitions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a worthwhile experience to have been part of the first-ever group from the African continent to compete at the Footgolf World Cup,\u201d believes Molebatsi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
His achievement in this new game is not a fluke. While a student at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, he was recognised as sportsman of the year and player of the year for 2005-\u201906. He was also capped with the South African Student Sports Union (Sassu) men\u2019s football team during his active tenure in 2007. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Molebatsi\u2019s promising football career was, how\u00adever, ended by a car accident on 11 July 2007. The vehicle he was driving overturned on the way to Colesberg, when Molebatsi was called out for work. He is a qualified engineer and works as a technician. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Bloemfontein-based player has earned his stripes by achieving a remarkable feat at the 2023 Footgolf World Cup tournament staged in Florida, America. He became South Africa\u2019s highest-ranking international player, of both men and women, to 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