Botswana’s US based golfer Ouname Mhotsha is relishing the prospects of turning professional as her college golf days come to a close.
The golfer is expected to complete her University programme later this year after spending four years in the USA where she had relocated on a student athlete scholarship.
Mhotsha’s journey as a college student began in August 2017 when she received a scholarship to Alcorn State University in Mississippi, USA.
She said: “I later transferred to the University of Arkansas in Monticello in January 2020 after the golf program at Alcorn got cancelled due to unavailability of funding.”
“When I got to Alcorn, the Coach that recruited me left immediately and we had to coach ourselves for sometime, we got a new Coach but he also left within a short period of time,” opined Mhotsha.
She said from May 2018 till January 2020, she did not have a Coach or any tournaments to play in.
“I had to pay from my pocket when I could afford it. The real struggle was not having a personal swing coach, it became very heavy for my mind to handle.”
When asked how she managed to overcome that challenge, Mhotsha had this to say “My Faith in God and support from Botswana and my family in the U.S is what kept me going. I also had strong support system from Alcorn State University.”
Recently, Mhotsha was among student golfers invited to take part at the 2021 PGA WORKS Collegiate Championships at the TPS Sawgrass, an experience she says was eye opening.
“From the conference where we met a lot of high-profile individuals in the United States golfing industry to playing in a high-profile golf course, the TPC Sawgrass, it was a mind-blowing experience,” she said.
“And seeing so many talented minority golfers from different ethnic groups was the icing on the cake,” Mhotsha added.
On her experience as a college golfer, Mhotsha noted that ‘it as been a tough journey.’
“It was not a smooth ride. It was a test of how much I wanted to achieve this golf dream not only for me but for my country as well,” she explained.
“My college golf career ended last week at the PGA works tournament. Preparations for professional golf has been going on since I was a junior golfer in Botswana, everything I did and learnt was to prepare me for the time I decide to become a professional golfer,” Mhotsha noted.
On her plans for the future, Mhotsha said she intends to prolong her stay in the USA to pursue her professional golfing dream.
“I will still be based in the U.S during my professional golf journey. Right now, my main priority is finding a great technical team to help me with my professional golf dream. I am also in the process of securing partnerships with sponsors for financial support, it would be really nice to wear Botswana brands.”
“I am ready to face the professional world of golf and I do not fear anything because I am ready to do my best and let God do the rest,” added Mhotsha.
When asked on what advice she can give to college golfers or aspiring ones, Mhotsha said “My advice would be; ‘take up golf because it has very important life lessons to offer.”
“I finished 21 out of 24 players in the past TPS Sawgrass. I was not feeling my best physically and mentally, producing results on the golf course was definitely a struggle but that did not stop me from making a name for myself in the presence of many inspirational individuals in the U. S golfing Industry,” concluded Mhotsha.
