By Alexander Dabb

Genna Taufa was one of the inaugural recipients of an Australian Golf Foundation (AGF) Junior Girls Scholarship, after applying through Tea Tree Gully Golf Club in South Australia.

Through the program, Genna, who turns ten this June, had access to coaching sessions once a week on Sunday afternoon, which saw her progress to competing in 18-hole tournaments, with her first being the SAPSASA Primary School Golf Event.

Kayla, Genna’s mother, said that despite not meeting the age threshold to compete in the actual event, Genna still excelled in the invitational round of her first ever tournament.

“She was too young last year to meet the qualification, so she was offered the invitational to the final, and when she went to that she came away with the gold medal, so that was pretty exciting, that was her first sort of tournament, and she did really well.”

The success Genna tasted in her first event has seen her set her sights on taking out the tournament proper when she competes again this year.

“We are looking to do SAPSASA again this year, but she will actually be old enough to qualify this year. Her score last year did finish her in the top 10, well would have finished her in the top 10 had she actually been allowed to compete properly.

“It should be really enjoyable this time around now that she’s actually in it.”

Genna also competed in the Tea Tree Gully junior club championships last year, making it through two qualifying rounds to secure a spot in the final, where she became the club champion in the junior handicap division.

Kayla believes that the opportunities presented by the AGF Junior Girls Scholarship program is inspiring a new generation of girl golfers, including Genna, to set their sights on one day turning professional.

“She really enjoyed the zoom call with Hannah Green” a session set up specifically for scholarship recipients, “that’s really stuck in her memory, and has sort of given her someone to aspire to or look up to, whereas before the pro circuit was a little bit beyond her horizon and a little bit hard to relate to, so that was a really helpful opportunity.”

Genna’s enjoyment for the game increased as a part of the program, Kayla said, and her positive experience was the catalyst for her to continue playing with a group of girls that are new to the program.

The experiences of scholarship recipients such as Genna has seen the AGF Junior Girls Scholarship program expanded in just its second year, now granting 686 girls scholarships in 2022, an increase of over 450 participants.

The Australian Golf Foundation is the national foundation for golf in Australia.The AGF supports Golf Australia’s vision to grow golf by investing in targeted initiatives to inspire all Australians to enjoy and play the game. Visit australiangolffoundation.org.au for further information.

In 2022, Australian Golf Foundation is thrilled to partner with NEXTGEN Group as the principal partner of the AGF Scholarship Programme in 2022, with significant further support provided by Golf Australia, Golf Victoria, Victorian Golf Foundation, Golf Queensland, Golf South Australia, Golf Tasmania, Golf Western Australia, Western Australian Golf Foundation, Golf Northern Territory, Jack Newton Junior Golf, Golf Management Australia, WPGA Tour of Australasia and PGA of Australia, as well as a number of additional generous private benefactors.

The scholarship program has come to fruition thanks to the foresight and generosity of Bonnie Boezeman AO, Director of the Australian Golf Foundation, who originally established the program at Killara Golf Club, NSW.